Foaming agents come from a wide range of chemicals and the constituent parts of many foaming products on the market are hidden behind brand names to protect the company’s intellectual property.Īnionic based surfactants such as alcohol ethoxylates are commonly used as foaming agents, along with being an ingredient in many household detergents. These air pockets within the finished product are designed to improve sound absorption, thermal performance and reduce weight. Foaming Agentsįoaming agents are added to gypsum plasterboard and drywall board to create bubbles in the mixture at the production stage. Although there is very little research on the health implications of polycarboxylic ethers in the home, they appear to be a non-toxic solution for now. However, more modern practices are favouring polycarboxylic ethers as a replacement. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen that will off-gas into the air that we breathe and accumulate in dust within the home. Sulfonated melamine formaldehyde (SMF) has been traditionally used as a plasticiser in gypsum-based products for many years. Plasticisers are used in the manufacture of plasterboard to make the raw material easier to work with, reduce costs and also to create a more resilient product. Plasticisers are a large group of chemical additives that are used to alter the characteristics of industrial products such as plastics, cement and of course gypsum materials such as plasterboard. Let’s start with the main group of ingredients, plasticisers. The best we can do is understand the broad groups of ingredients, the potential red flags and identify products that we can say with certainty are devoid of such chemicals. So understanding which products are less harmful than others is somewhat of an obstacle course. Unfortunately for the homeowner, plasterboard manufacturers are fairly tight-lipped about the chemicals they use, preferring to list brand name products as ingredients instead. However today, the legislation around certain chemicals is tighter and some manufacturers are making efforts to use alternatives. Much less was understood about the negative health implications of such additives in the past. Many additives are used to improve the structural qualities, cost and workability of plasterboard. Is gypsum plasterboard toxic?īefore we introduce the constituent components of gypsum plasterboard, let’s get straight to the point: is plasterboard toxic? And the answer is: it depends. Each one will use different chemicals in the production process and will have a different impact in the home. Gypsum plasterboard comes in many variations such as insulated plasterboard, moisture resistant plasterboard, acoustic plasterboard and foil backed plasterboard. However, there are many other components to plasterboard besides gypsum. Although there is evidence of health problems amongst workers who mine gypsum, it is considered to be a safe product to be used in building materials. Along with its inclusion in plasterboard and other building materials, gypsum is also widely used as a fertiliser. Plasterboard and drywall board are predominantly made from gypsum, a soft pale coloured mineral composed of sulfate dihydrate. In this guide we will share with you what we have learned to answer the question: is gypsum plasterboard toxic? We shall delve into what plasterboard is made of and what the possible implications to health are, before introducing some alternative products. We have spent years researching the health impacts of building materials and have practical experience of both gypsum plasterboard and non-gypsum alternatives. In fact, gypsum plasterboard and drywall board are so prevalent that it is a challenge to find a more healthy alternative. It’s a valid question because gypsum plasterboard and drywall board are amongst the most widely used materials in the construction of a home. You may be asking whether gypsum plasterboard can impact your health and the health of your family within the home.
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