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Asbestos In Clay

Asbestos is composed of six fibrous minerals that occur naturally in the eRecently, a Connecticut town was rocked by the news that the clay being used in their art rooms contained small amounts of asbestos. In fact, it is not unusual for there to be asbestos naturally occurring in clay in small amounts, and generally it should not be a cause for alarm. If you work with clay regularly however, and in particular if you mix your own clay from powder, there is a high chance of inhaling asbestos fibers from the dry mix. Inhalation of asbestos fibers has been implicated as the only known cause of mesothelioma. The Tucson Environmental Council lists mixing dry clay at the top of its list of hazards in the arts and sciences, with inhalation listed as highly hazardous.

Interestingly, school teachers are one of the few occupational categories on the highest mesothelioma risk lists that are not related to construction, power or automobile mechanics.

This is not new news. In 1983, Milton Bradley, the children's toy company, recalled a batch of Fibro Clay, an art room clay that was used to make paper mache in schools. What's more disturbing for many young adults is the knowledge that Fibro Clay and other clay products containing asbestos were widely used by schools in the 1960s and 1970s. Asbestos was frequently added to clay and clay products that were to be subjected to high temperatures. According to Milton Bradley, none of their clay products have contained asbestos since 1975. How did the clay found in a Connecticut school a few months ago come by its asbestos, then?

According to the investigation done at the time, the small amount of asbestos found in the school's art room clay came from talc added to the clay. The talc had come from the R.T. Vanderbilt mines in upstate New York, which are contaminated with asbestos. Despite the knowledge that the mines are contaminated, talc from that mine can still be legally sold.

What you can do to prevent exposure to asbestos fibers if you work with clay

The New York Department of Public Health made these recommendations for school districts in light of the discovery of asbestos in art room clay.

• Use talc-free clay. Talc is often added to clay to speed hardening. It is the suspected source of the asbestos fibers found in the air of the art room at the school.
• Use premixed wet clays rather than mixing your own dry clays. This greatly reduces the danger of inhaling clay dust containing asbestos fibers.
• Use cleaning methods that reduce the amount of airborne dust during cleanup. Clay that has dried on surfaces or dry clay that has been spilled on the floor are another possible source of airborne clay dust with asbestos fibers. Use wet sponges and mops to clean up rather than sweeping or vacuuming, unless a HEPA vacuum is used.

Other dangers of clay and asbestos

Clay containing asbestos was also commonly used as a sealant or insulator for pipe joints. If you worked as a pipe fitter or plumber, you may have encountered asbestos containing clay used in this way.

Other clay products containing asbestos are firebrick and cement for building and repairing fireplaces. At least one company that made firebrick and fireplace cement, the Rutland Fire Clay Company of Rutland, VT, has been successfully sued for its use of asbestos in clay products. Rutland Fire Clay has not used asbestos in its products since 1973, and remains in business despite a bankruptcy filing.

If you have been exposed to asbestos in any products, it is important that you let your doctor know, as it may affect his ability to accurately diagnose your condition. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos related condition, you may also consider contacting a lawyer who specializes in asbestos and mesothelioma lawsuits.

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