Textured walls were popular in the US in the 1970s. But because of 10-year research establishing sanding of drywalls in temperate climates such as California, exposing that it significantly adds to the air pollution rate of an area as well as one risk factor for cancer, it became prohibited. As such, the state of California instated wall texturing as a cost-efficient way to cover up drywall without having to sand or smoothen it.