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WHAT IS CHINESE DRYWALL? |
In short, the term "Chinese Drywall" (which is also sometimes referred to as "Contaminated
Drywall" or "Tainted Drywall") refers to drywall imported from China from 2001 to 2007. Heat and
humidity cause the drywall to release gases, which not only create a noxious odor, but they corrode
copper and other metal surface, thereby damaging your air conditioner, electrical wiring, copper
plumbing, appliances and electronics. Corrosion of electrical wiring can hamper the effectiveness
of your smoke detection and can create a risk of fire. Chinese drywall is also very friable, which
means it is in a state where small particles can easily become dislodged with little friction, thus
enabling them to easily enter your lungs. For this reason, even after Chinese drywall is removed,
the toxic drywall particulate may remain unless property removed. To date, there is no proven
remediation protocol and, therefore, one should exercise caution before removing Chinese drywall.
Last year, a default judgment was entered against Taishan
Gypsum (a company which is controlled by the Chinese
government) for failing to respond to a lawsuit. As a
result, Taishan cannot contest liability, however, the court
still must determine the damages to be awared (i.e., what
must be remediated and the cost ). Evidentiary hearings
are now underway and the trial is scheduled to begin on
February 19, 2010. The outcome of this trial will not be
binding on other manufacturers or parties, but it will likely
serve as a yardstick for remediation, which may make
future trials on the same issue unnecessary.
Special Master Michael Rozen announced that settlement
negotiations with the manufacturers of Chinese drywall
have been ongoing and he is "optimistic" about a
resolution in the "short term."
________________________________
Attention Engle/Tousa Homeowners. A drywall trust
(similar to the WCI Trust) may soon be created for the
benefit of homeowners with Chinese drywall.
________________________________
State Senator Dave Aronberg (D- District 27) has
introduced legislation to address the Chinese drywall
crisis. Aronbeg's proposed bills would create a Chinese
drywall task force (S 1044), set standards for remediating
homes (SB 1042), require licensing of drywall inspectors
and remediators (SB 500) and establish safety
requirements for future drywall products (SB 498).
Please contact your state senator to voice your support.
_________________________________
HUD instructs mortgage lenders to offer temporary relief
to FHA insured families. Click here. Other homeowners
however are still at the mercy of their lenders. Fannie Mae
refuses to assist Chinese drywall victims.
_________________________________
Gypsum (a company which is controlled by the Chinese
government) for failing to respond to a lawsuit. As a
result, Taishan cannot contest liability, however, the court
still must determine the damages to be awared (i.e., what
must be remediated and the cost ). Evidentiary hearings
are now underway and the trial is scheduled to begin on
February 19, 2010. The outcome of this trial will not be
binding on other manufacturers or parties, but it will likely
serve as a yardstick for remediation, which may make
future trials on the same issue unnecessary.
Special Master Michael Rozen announced that settlement
negotiations with the manufacturers of Chinese drywall
have been ongoing and he is "optimistic" about a
resolution in the "short term."
________________________________
Attention Engle/Tousa Homeowners. A drywall trust
(similar to the WCI Trust) may soon be created for the
benefit of homeowners with Chinese drywall.
________________________________
State Senator Dave Aronberg (D- District 27) has
introduced legislation to address the Chinese drywall
crisis. Aronbeg's proposed bills would create a Chinese
drywall task force (S 1044), set standards for remediating
homes (SB 1042), require licensing of drywall inspectors
and remediators (SB 500) and establish safety
requirements for future drywall products (SB 498).
Please contact your state senator to voice your support.
_________________________________
HUD instructs mortgage lenders to offer temporary relief
to FHA insured families. Click here. Other homeowners
however are still at the mercy of their lenders. Fannie Mae
refuses to assist Chinese drywall victims.
_________________________________
| THIS IS WHAT CHINESE DRYWALL IS DOING TO YOUR AIR CONDITIONER. WHAT IS IT DOING TO YOUR HEALTH? |
Hundreds of millions of sheets of Chinese drywall were imported from 2004 to 2006, but Chinese drywall has
recently been found in homes built or remodeled as early as 2001. Accordingly, this phenomenon cannot be
explained solely by the shortage of American-manufactured drywall. The presence of Chinese drywall has been
reported in 36 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico is estimated to have been installed in over 100,000
homes in the United States. See Map. Unfortunately, this does not paint an accurate picture as most affected
homes have a mixture of safe and tainted drywall.
The majority of Chinese drywall is 1/2", but not always. According to Lori A. Streit, Ph.D., from Unified
Engineering, the same compounds found in problematic Chinese drywall and the same gases released therefrom
have also been found in drywall measuring 5/8" (which is typically used in ceilings).
Does your home smell like rotten eggs or ammonia (sometimes a sweetish smell)? Is it more noticeable when
entering your home and then seems to dissipate? The level of odor varies greatly in each home as does each
person’s ability to detect the odor. Of course, the strength of the odor also depends on how much drywall was
used in the home. Significantly, some homeowners report no smell, but their home clearly has Chinese drywall. In
short, do not rely on your nose alone, particularly since many develop olfactory fatigue after being exposed to
Chinese drywall.
Chinese drywall corrodes electrical wiring. Check the electrical receptacles in your walls to see if the wires are
blackened. Pull off the electrical plate and look inside. Obviously, do not touch anything - you could get
shocked. There should be a copper wire inside. The wires in this photo have been corroded from Chinese
drywall. The breaker panel should also be checked.
Signs of an electrical problem include, a circuit breaker which frequently needs resetting without an apparent
cause (particularly a GFCI or AFCI); lights that flicker without any apparent cause; bright flashes or sparks
anywhere in your electrical system (this may indicate arcing conditions in the wiring); buzzing from electrical
systems, switch plates, dimmers and outlet covers that are discolored from overheating; and a smell from
overheating plastic. See Florida Department of Health Case Definition for Drywall Associated
Corrosion in Residences.
COULD CHINESE DRYWALL BE IN MY HOME? |
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WELCOME TO CHINESEDRYWALL.COM
The first website dedicated to educating the public about Chinese drywall
While the material source of the problem is known, the cause of the problem remains unknown.
Initially, the most common theory was that the tainted drywall was manufactured in gypsum mines in
China which used fly ash, a waste material that is a byproduct from power plants using coal.
Samples of Chinese drywall tested by United Engineering, however, consisted of 5-15% organic
material, which contradicts the theory that Chinese drywall was made of waste from coal fired
power plants. It is now believed that the tainted drywall from China comes from mined gypsum,
not synthetic gypsum which is made from coal ash. Mined gypsum contains high levels of
strontium, which is visible as inclusions in electron scanning microscopy.
Another theory is that Chinese drywall contains bacteria which is degrading iron and sulfur
compounds to produce sulfur odors. Drywall imported from China was kept on barges at sea for
months awaiting permission to enter the United States. While at sea, the drywall was exposed to
seawater. In fact, there are reports that the drywall was wet (and stunk) when unloaded from the
ships. A new theory focuses on the water source used to manufacture the drywall, which may not
have been properly treated to remove fecal waste.
Testing of drywall outer paper and the gypsum core has been found to release sulfur compounds.
Thus, there are potential causes aside from the drywall itself, including contaminants in the adhesive
that binds the paper to the drywall. Additionally, the drywall or outer paper may have been treated
with a fungicide after entering the United States.
Irrespective of the source (which is still open to debate), preliminary analytical testing of Chinese
drywall samples have revealed strontium sulfide . See Public Health Statement regarding
Strontium; Statement Regarding Health Effects. See also, EPA Drywall Sampling Analysis dated
May 7, 2009).
Initially, the most common theory was that the tainted drywall was manufactured in gypsum mines in
China which used fly ash, a waste material that is a byproduct from power plants using coal.
Samples of Chinese drywall tested by United Engineering, however, consisted of 5-15% organic
material, which contradicts the theory that Chinese drywall was made of waste from coal fired
power plants. It is now believed that the tainted drywall from China comes from mined gypsum,
not synthetic gypsum which is made from coal ash. Mined gypsum contains high levels of
strontium, which is visible as inclusions in electron scanning microscopy.
Another theory is that Chinese drywall contains bacteria which is degrading iron and sulfur
compounds to produce sulfur odors. Drywall imported from China was kept on barges at sea for
months awaiting permission to enter the United States. While at sea, the drywall was exposed to
seawater. In fact, there are reports that the drywall was wet (and stunk) when unloaded from the
ships. A new theory focuses on the water source used to manufacture the drywall, which may not
have been properly treated to remove fecal waste.
Testing of drywall outer paper and the gypsum core has been found to release sulfur compounds.
Thus, there are potential causes aside from the drywall itself, including contaminants in the adhesive
that binds the paper to the drywall. Additionally, the drywall or outer paper may have been treated
with a fungicide after entering the United States.
Irrespective of the source (which is still open to debate), preliminary analytical testing of Chinese
drywall samples have revealed strontium sulfide . See Public Health Statement regarding
Strontium; Statement Regarding Health Effects. See also, EPA Drywall Sampling Analysis dated
May 7, 2009).
| IS THE DRYWALL DANGEROUS? |
According to Dr. Patricia Williams, a University of New Orleans toxicologist, there is no question - highly toxic
compounds have been found in Chinese drywall and prolonged exposure to these compounds can cause
serious problems. Strontium sulfide may be dangerous to developing children; it affects bone growth. Chronic
exposure to these gases may affect the central nervous system (including visual and sensory changes),
cardiovascular system, eyes, kidneys, liver and skin. Infants, children, the elderly and infirm (particularly those
with heart and lung disease and diabetes) and pets may have an increased vulnerability to these gases and
the particulates that are released from the drywall. The particulates from Chinese drywall may invade and
adhere to other building materials in the home's structure and personal objects within the home. Translation -
cross-contamination is a real concern and should be factored into any remediation protocol.
Nonetheless, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) continues to maintain that the levels found in Chinese
drywall are not high enough to present “an imminent or chronic health hazard at this time.” It is not clear
whether this finding takes into consideration long-term exposure and the combined exposure to multiple
compounds. Consumer Product Safety Commission recently acknowledged that the gases emitted from
Chinese drywall could cause irritant effects.
In addition to health effects, corrosion of electrical wiring may hamper the effectiveness of smoke detectors,
which presents a serious safety concern. Low level arcing has also been observed in some homes with
Chinese drywall, which could cause an electrical fire.
WHAT IS THE SOURCE? |
Intuitive Environmental Solutions Residential Inspections for Chinese Drywall S.W. Florida *Visual inspection for markings *Use of borescope for internal wall *Metering for various sulfur gases *Acidic test of coil condensate *Comprehensive report with photos and detailed testing information (239) 292-5091 www.intuitiveenvsol.comc |
Contact us at help@chinesedrywall.com or (561) 705-4579
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF CHINESE DRYWALL? |
| QUICK UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS |
CLICK HERE TO SEE TYPES OF DRYWALL MARKINGS |
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