U.S.: Chinese Drywall, Corrosion Linked

(AP)  The federal government said Monday that it has found a "strong association" between problematic imported Chinese drywall and corrosion of pipes and wires, a conclusion that supports complaints by thousands of U.S. homeowners over the last year.

In its second report on the potentially defective building materials, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said its investigation also has found a "possible" link between health problems reported by homeowners and hydrogen sulfide gas emitted from the wallboard coupled with formaldehyde, which is commonly found in new houses.

The agency, along with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, continues to study the potential health effects, and the long-term implications of the corrosion.

The commission said it can now move forward with additional studies to identify effective remediation of the problem and potential assistance from the federal government in fixing it.

The agency has spent $3.5 million on the studies, and has received more than 2,000 homeowner complaints from 32 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, in one of its largest consumer product investigations in U.S. history.

The commission released its first report on the drywall last month, noting before it could consider a recall, ban or other action.

Thousands of homeowners who bought new houses built with the imported Chinese building product are finding their lives in limbo as hundreds of lawsuits against builders, contractors, suppliers and manufacturers wind through the courts.

During the height of the U.S. housing boom, with building materials in short supply, American construction companies imported millions of pounds of Chinese-made drywall because it was abundant and cheap. An Associated Press analysis of shipping records found that more than 500 million pounds of Chinese gypsum board was imported between 2004 and 2008 - enough to have built tens of thousands of homes.

They are heavily concentrated in the Southeast, especially Florida and areas of Louisiana and Mississippi hit hard by Hurricane Katrina.

The suspect building materials have previously been found by state and federal agencies to emit "volatile sulfur compounds." Officials have also found traces of strontium sulfide, which can produce a rotten-egg odor, along with organic compounds not found in American-made drywall. Homeowners complain the fumes are corroding copper pipes, destroying TVs and air conditioners, blackening jewelry and silverware, and making them sick.

The federal government says China is assisting with the investigation.

[ckh123mmm]

Buy American! The Chinese hate us anyway and own us as well.

[John_Merritt]

In our subdivision built since 2003-4, the only problem we have is not with the drywall; it is the water systems run by a major water company here in the US and Florida. The smell and taste of the waters are incredible, which causes me to filter everything and/or buy bottled waters. No complaints with the drywall, it does what it is supposed to do.

[timmolyons1]

does anyone realize that a lot of drywall is made from the spent lime of coal powered power plants srubbers?

[thegolfguy]

This is really no different all the other Chinese made crap Americans buy every day at "discount" retailers such as WalMart. Sure, save a buck or two, but years from now we'll all be wondering why there isn't much of a living in flipping burgers for each other. It's happening already.

[the0racle]

Years pass and these studies will always be 'inconclusive' as long as American companies are at risk for profit loss. t\The photo attached is NOT a good example of corrosion. Google photos for Chinese drywall. Crafty profiteers get rid of their poisons by incorporating it into common items (children's toys, baby formula, drywall) that are sold to unsuspecting buyers. Our government needs to come to work soon before we are all killed. The next poison item is already on the shelf. What will it be? toothbrushes? vitamins? pepsi? toilet paper?

[rbburnerjr2]

Is China going to pay? The Republicans have already pocketed their money. The funny part of this is that the area that used the drywall is by a large number a Republican area. The Republicans will even steal from their own supporters. Maybe Newt and Rush will help these home owners.

[CarlosdelGato]

More AFTER THE FACT action by own government. By allowing the importation of Chinese drywall KNOWN to be sub par and toxic by many reports, WEALTH generation came before public safety - fully supported by our own government. What a disgrace - again.

[us_1776]

The only solution is to TEAR DOWN these chinese-drywall homes. Otherwise we will have unsuspecting buyers purchasing these homes for decades to come and endangering their families. There is no requirement to disclose this defect in cash sales. We need the government to order manufacturers, distributors, supply houses, developers and builders to pay for the demolition and replacement of all these chinese-drywall homes.

[denvermorgan3000]

what do people expect when you buy from the enemy they are not our friends everything they have done for the last 20 years proves it
what the chinese say does not mean crap its what they do that shows their real intent thats my two cents worth

[Jack Wiseheimer]

I really feel very sorry for all the homeowners who wanted to get a cozy home and found out that they had gotten 'third world quality' drywalls. Definitely, the investigators are delaying the whole process - why are further analyses necessary, aren't 2000 specimen enough?
Not only is hydrogen sulfide a very toxic gas (under wet conditions released from strontium sulfide by hydrolysis) it destructs even (noble) metalls, like copper and silver, by creating corrosion compounds with less stability and conductivity. No one is able to live a house that always stinks like a sink or toilet. Every time it rains the hydrolysis process will continue to produce the H2S gas that smells like rotten eggs. Unfortunately, the only solution seems to be the complete demolition of the houses with the disposal of the respective Chinese drywalls. This dirt should be shipped back to them on their expense.