Drywall from China making people sick

[_Simpson_ 250]

Keith Baker noticed sour smells emanating from the walls of his newly built home in Fort Myers, Fla., soon after he took up residence there in March 2008. Then the copper pipes from the water heater turned black, "as though someone threw soot on them." Soon, Baker and his wife started experiencing sinus problems, dizzy spells and muscle aches. They are among thousands of homeowners in Florida and elsewhere who are blaming such problems on low-quality, imported drywall.

Domestic supplies of the building staple ran short during the building boom of recent years, which was compounded in coastal areas by post-hurricane reconstruction projects. Contractors imported 540 million pounds of drywall from China between 2004 and 2008, according to shipping records surveyed by the Associated Press.

Search for Chinese product safety issues on Bing.

The office of Florida Sen. Bill Nelson estimates that the material may have ended up in as many as 100,000 homes nationwide. Lab analyses obtained by the Florida Department of Health show that the gypsum in some Chinese drywall contains strontium sulfide, a material absent from most samples manufactured in the United States. The EPA tests for this material are still pending, but scientists suspect that this compound, which releases sulfurous gases, could be the cause of homeowner complaints that range from nosebleeds and respiratory ailments to black coatings tarnishing shower fixtures and corroding air-conditioner coils.

What's your home worth?

Researchers say the evidence isn't conclusive — and point out that not all Chinese drywall is suspect. However, a number of class-action lawsuits have been filed against plasterboard manufacturers and others. Builder Lennar Corporation has identified dozens of houses containing potentially harmful drywall, and has pledged to fund the only known remedy: removing the drywall, replacing damaged plumbing and wiring and relocating homeowners until new materials are installed. In a sure sign that fear is spreading, con men have started hawking bogus test kits and remedies such as chemical sprays and ozone generators.

Professional Services

Homeowners worried about their own wall material can check for a "Made In" stamp or a manufacturer's name on exposed board backs. If no name appears, the Florida attorney general's office recommends an inspection by the builder or a licensed contractor. Meanwhile, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is "We need to see what's going on," spokesperson Joe Martyak says. "We will pursue this aggressively but scientifically."

This article was written by Adam Hadhazy for PopularMechanics.com.

http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-...3&GT1=35000

[AlHayatZween 2]

The EPA tests for this material are still pending, but scientists suspect that this compound, which releases sulfurous gases, could be the cause of homeowner complaints that range from nosebleeds and respiratory ailments

How many lessons do we need to learn to stop importing toxic ####### from over there?

[Danno 1,228]

The EPA tests for this material are still pending, but scientists suspect that this compound, which releases sulfurous gases, could be the cause of homeowner complaints that range from nosebleeds and respiratory ailments

How many lessons do we need to learn to stop importing toxic ####### from over there?

The problem is; we and so many other countries import so much stuff from China it's not like we can double check all"their stuff".

Drywall is no more than Paper and Gypsum material.... who would think this stuff would or could be toxic.

I would imagine... when one considers the vast amount of ####### we buy from them.. it's a very small percentage of stuff, we have had problems with.

* I might add, we have had problems with some of our own building material as well, every thing from wire that failed to plumbing supply lines which leaked.

not to mention asbestos and paint.

Edited June 5, 2009 by Danno

[scandal 951]

I saw a news report on this a few months ago. NBC Nightly News, I think.

It's particularly problematic in Florida, where much of the new construction of the last decade is "infected".

In some cases houses are unusable and need to be torn down

I like older houses - the house I bought was built in 1949 back when American craftsmanship and materials meant something.

The home inspector told me the house has "good bones"

[AlHayatZween 2]

The problem is; we and so many other countries import so much stuff from China it's not like we can double check all"their stuff".

Drywall is no more than Paper and Gypsum material.... who would think this stuff would or could be toxic.

I would imagine... when one considers the vast amount of ####### we buy from them.. it's a very small percentage of stuff, we have had problems with.

* I might add, we have had problems with some of our own building material as well, every thing from wire that failed to plumbing supply lines which leaked.

not to mention asbestos and paint.

i guess so... but why can't we make some of this stuff here? Why do we have to import so much from them?

in my post i was mostly thinking about the lead-tainted toys...

[Ladylethal 12]

That's why I like my old house in Brazil best, none of this drywall stuff, it's real bricks and concrete. Of course we don't have hurricanes or earthquakes to tore anything down either. Here in Puerto Rico all houses are 100% concrete including the roofs (which are all flat) no rooftops that can be torn down by the hurricanes, no glass on the windows, they're all built to stay put and solid during a hurricane.

[Ban Hammer 15,091]

seen this one before......

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...&hl=drywall

Edited June 5, 2009 by charles!

[spookyturtle 9,466]

China sucks. They keep trying to poison us. First it was the kids with lead paint on the toys, now this.

[mawilson 2,133]

The EPA tests for this material are still pending, but scientists suspect that this compound, which releases sulfurous gases, could be the cause of homeowner complaints that range from nosebleeds and respiratory ailments

How many lessons do we need to learn to stop importing toxic ####### from over there?

They will stop importing it as soon as people stop buying it.

I don't buy anything made in China, unless I absolutely have to.