Gold Bond Perfo-Lyte
For decades, many products used in the construction industry contained asbestos. You can find them both inside and outside of a home or commercial building. The mineral was so widely used because of its durability and fire resistance. In addition, it was readily available and cheap to use – two more reasons why manufactures found it to be an attractive product.
One of the largest manufacturers of asbestos-containing products during much of the twentieth century was the National Gypsum Company. They made a variety of insulation and other products that were used in both homes and commercial structures, but were best known as the manufacturers of “modern wallboard”. However, their acoustical plaster was also popular and was marketed under the name Gold Bond Perfo-Lyte. Perfo-Lyte acoustical plaster was said to be highly efficient and extremely sound absorbing. It was “architecturally flexible for intricate ceiling designs” and “able to be used on flat or curved surfaces.” It was applied over gypsum or a combination of Portland cement, lime, and plaster. The Perfo-Lyte would form “a cellular structure of lime bound with mineral fibers,” according to the company’s marketing materials.
The mineral fibers mentioned in the previous statement were asbestos fibers. Asbestos was added to Gold Bond Perfo-Lyte to make it last longer. However, the asbestos in this acoustical plaster was as much a negative as a positive. While the Perfo-Lyte was perfectly safe as long as the plaster remained intact, as soon as it became damaged or started to crumble from age, asbestos fibers would be released into the air and could be inhaled by those in the area.
Unfortunately, many individuals failed to realize that their attractive and ornate acoustical ceiling was causing health problems in their home, office, or school. What records do show, however, is that some executives knew of the dangers of inhaling asbestos but did not share the information with their employees or others that used products like Gold Bond Perfo-Lyte and other Gold Bond brand products. These executives or company owners were warned about asbestos’ toxicity as much as two or three decades before the U.S. government issued warnings about the mineral’s use in the late 1970s. If these companies had halted the use of asbestos as soon as they knew about its hazards, hundreds – probably thousands – of lives could have been spared. But asbestos continued to be used, probably in the interest of increased profits for companies such as National Gypsum.
Today, many individuals who were exposed to Gold Bond Perfo-Lyte and other Gold Bond products have already died of asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. Others continue to battle these diseases. Treatment is costly and the lives of the victims and their families are changed forever. Many of the victims are unable to work or even to perform normal daily tasks. The prognosis is grim.
Fortunately, the U.S. courts have realized that these victims may be entitled to compensation for their injuries. If you have mesothelioma due to exposure to Gold Bond Perfo-Lyte, it’s important to take a minute to examine your legal right to compensation. For more details, order our mesothelioma information kit today.
Last modified: September 23 2008.
