Yes, I certainly wish I would have understood that in the past four or five incidents when I was working on this stuff. Would asbestos likely been in those joint compounds in the late 1970s and early 1980s as well? Believe me this education means I will never touch this type of stuff again unless I have one seriously expensive asbestos rated mask on at all times.

In the drywall itself, asbestos would not be expected, but you still must have the tests run. Where it can more likely be found is in the joint compound used.

I know that asbestos was sometimes put in drywall, but I also know that a very large drywall company ...US Gypsum Company...has never used asbestos in drywall (though they did use it in other products). I have asked several questions in the past few days about construction materials and their likely asbestos content because unfortunately before learning of the asbestos threat I worked on some projects involving dust without any protection...not a mask, not goggles, nothing. I have learned a valuable lesson from my research and questions and will never put myself in that kind of risk again. So, I know I was exposed to some drywall dust from drywall installed around 1965 and I know US Gypsum Company did not use it but I don't know who manufactured the drywall I was exposed to. I am wondering if US Gypsum was the market leader in the 1960s. If so I would rest a little easier knowing there was a good chance they made the drywall. Does anyone know if any drywalls from that era made by other companies contained asbestos and if so what their asbestos content might have been?