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The Chinese Drywall Situation
The Consumer Products Safety Commission weighs in on the Chinese Drywall mess in the Gulf and surrounding states
By Nick Bajzek, Products Editor
July 31, 2009
HousingZone
Safety Commission Digs into Chinese Drywall Debacle In July, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) reported more than 681 complaints from residents in 20 states regarding foul-smelling drywall in their homes. In response, the recently appointed head of the CPSC, Inez Tenenbaum, departed this week to meet with government officials in Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam. Tenenbaum is expected to warn manufacturers to expect tougher regulation on drywall and other products exported to the United States.
 Foul-smelling Chinese drywall has been blamed for corroding metal components such as air conditioner coils (Image courtesy of treehugger.com) |
The Associated Press recently reported potentially more than 500 million pounds of the problematic wallboard entered the U.S. between 2004 and 2008. To date, at least 12 class action lawsuits involving this material have been filed in 33 states against builders, suppliers and manufacturers. As many as 36,000 homes in Florida and 100,000 nationwide are thought to contain the imported wallboard.
Tests conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency showed the imported drywall contained elevated levels of strontium sulfide, as well as several potentially harmful organic compounds associated with the production of acrylic paint. These compounds, which can cause a variety of ailments, were not present in control samples of U.S.-made drywall.
Because of the logistics of shipping drywall to the U.S. and the drywall supply shortages post-Hurricane Katrina, the drywall in question was mainly consumed in areas near ports and did not end up in homes outside the Gulf States.
The drywall reportedly has a sulfuric odor akin to rotten eggs. These odors are blamed for corroding metal components, including air conditioning coils and refrigerators. The odors have allegedly caused itchy eyes and skin, breathing difficulties, coughs, headaches and a host of other ailments to occupants.
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