Toxic Drywall

Since December 2008, various health departments and building officials in the U.S. have been receiving complaints about defective drywall. In the U.S., drywall is rarely imported. But at least three shipments containing Chinese drywall are known to have been delivered to the Port of Tampa, Florida from 2004 to 2006 - boom years in construction in Florida. One official with a large building company reported that over 10 million square feet of Chinese drywall was imported to Florida. The Gypsum Association said its analysis of government trade data found approx. 300 million square feet of drywall from China was imported into the U.S. from 2006 to 2007.

Two kinds of board arrived: half-inch standard wallboard, and 5/8-inch fire-rated wallboard. The latter is supposed to have documentation attesting that it meets international standards. The Chinese product had no such stamps. "There were very few markings at all on it," a construction consultant reports.

Greg Alspaugh, owner of Coral Plastering & Wall Systems, said the Chinese drywall that came into this market three to four years ago often was of poor quality. "Most of it was really brittle. By the time the company delivered it and you put it on a wall, you had pieces on the floor."

The drywall is made of gypsum, which contains sulfur. The sulfur is typically filtered out, but the filler may have been placed back into the drywall. Homeowners and air quality control experts say the drywall emits several sulfur compounds, including sulfur dioxide or hydrogen sulfide. This destroys air-conditioner coils and copper, causing corrosion and/or failure of the systems, which causes them to require to replaced repeatedly and an increased risk of electrical fire. Computers were damaged. Belt buckles, jewelry, mirrors and picture frames became tarnished. And it emits a noxious sulfur smell.

The drywall is also a possible health hazard. Increasing numbers of individuals are complaining of headaches, nausea and respiratory problems. In some cases, they are continuing mortgage payments on homes that they are not able to live in. "We've had breathing problems that just wouldn't go away, nosebleeds, we just felt awful all the time," said one home owner, who stated that once she moved her family out, their ailments began to subside. Other families report similar stories. Some families have been move into temporary housing paid for by building companies.

"The minute you walk in, it hits you... just like that. You know something's not right," says construction consultant Michael Foreman. "It's the drywall that is all wrong. The more people that are being outspoken and coming forward with this problem, the quicker it is going to be addressed by the government agencies and by the community at large that we are dealing with here...magnitude of the problem is what we really don't know… The builders are in fear right now; they want to keep it as quiet as possible."

According to the National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors, it emits much higher levels of sulfur, methane, and other volatile organic compounds than is considered safe. "It certainly does raise concerns," said Dr. David Krause, toxicologist for the Florida Health Department. "There may be a direct health threat."

One law firm has declared that it intends to file a class action lawsuit against builders, suppliers and other responsible parties.

Florida homeowners dealing with the toxic drywall may face severe economic consequences. The damage it causes is serious and expensive to fix. Home values are decreasing. The values of homes built with toxic drywall will likely drop even more, and be extremely difficult to sell.

Sources:
http://www.newsinferno.com
http://www.mysuncoast.com/Global/story.asp?S=9676831&nav=menu577_2_1
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090121/ARTICLE/901210348/1006/SPORTS0301
http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/lakewood_ranch_herald/story/1155121.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28620905/
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123171862994672097.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
http://www.mysuncoast.com/Global/story.asp?S=9676831&nav=menu577_2_1
http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=98053&catid=8

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