Potentially Deadly Fumes from Chinese Drywall Prompt CPSC Investigation

    June 25, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In December 2008 the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) received its first complaints about problems associated with drywall imported from China between 2004 and 2007. New homeowners began complaining about a foul, sulfur-like rotten-egg smell permeating their homes, a list of health problems, corroded wiring and air ducts, and electrical systems and appliances switching off and on erratically. By February 2009 the CPSC issued a document outlining the nature of the complaints, the problems people experienced and its plan of action to investigate the complaint along with answers to several FAQs.

Not just in Florida

The complaints originated in Florida with some 90 complaints being filed from 15 different counties by mid-February. By that time complaints from Michigan, Virginia, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Maryland, North and South Carolina, New York and New Jersey had been filed with a consumer advocacy group.

One of the problems in determining how widespread the problem is comes from not knowing how much Chinese drywall was used in any particular house. It could involve a few panels each in different areas, and entire room, or the entire house. With a building boom in 2004 due to multiple hurricanes and a bullish housing market, the use of imported Chinese drywall increased as U.S. supplies were depleted.

EPA Tests

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted tests comparing Chinese drywall to American-made material, and found sulfur in the Chinese drywall that was not present in the American wallboard. When combined with water sulfur compounds can create sulfuric acid. The humidity in the eastern part of the U.S. is sufficient to cause this reaction when fumes are released from the drywall.

CPSC moving too slowly

By April, Senator Bill Nelson, D-FL had grown impatient with the lack of progress CPSC had made in failing to stop the importation of Chinese drywall that he wrote to President Obama calling for the resignation of the current head of the agency. People are being forced to decide whether to leave their homes and pay both rent for a new home and a mortgage payment on a home they can't live in, stay and endure the physical effects or potential dangers caused by corrosion, or invest in replacing their walls and ceilings.

From serious to deadly

It had been suspected that the drywall is emitting hydrogen sulfide fumes. This deadly gas can cause extreme irritation in as little as ten minutes exposure to only 50 ppm, but inhaling 500 to 1,000 ppm can be deadly. That concentration can cause unconsciousness, respiratory paralysis and subsequent suffocation. A number of drywall lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers, and construction companies, and many construction companies have begun replacing drywall in the homes they built.

Many are convinced that the drywall is causing their health problems because of the almost immediate relief they experience when they leave their homes. Symptoms reported to the CPSC include:

- A "rotten egg" smell in their homes
- Irritated and itchy eyes and skin
- Difficulty breathing
- Persistent cough
- Bloody noses
- Runny noses
- Recurrent headaches
- Sinus infection
- Asthma attacks.
- Blackened and corroded metal components in their homes
- Frequent replacement of components in air conditioning units

CPSC recommends watching for these electrical problems:

- Power outages - a circuit breaker that needs resetting frequently without any apparent cause
- Dim/flickering lights - lights dim often without any specific cause, such as the air conditioner or the refrigerator turning on
- Arcs/sparks - bright flashes or showers of sparks anywhere in your electrical system.
- Sizzles/buzzes - unusual sounds from electrical system devices
- Overheating - parts of your electrical system, such as switch plates, dimmer switches, receptacle outlet covers, cords and plugs should not be discolored from heat or painful to touch
- Odors - pungent smells such as strong fumes from overheating plastic or electrical insulation materials
- Electrical shocks - any shock, even a mild tingle
- Multiple symptoms would be a stronger indication of problems

If you would like to learn more about Chinese drywall problems please visit the website of Schlichter, Bogard & Denton, experienced consumer product attorneys.

Source: Schlichter, Bogard & Denton
Website: http://www.druginjuryinformation.com

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