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Defective Drywall Contaminating Homes in the U.S.

Drywall imported from China and used in new home construction and renovations, as well as commercial buildings in the United States has been associated with the release of toxic sulfur compounds, emitting an offensive "rotten egg" smell throughout the home, and causing extensive damage to residential wiring, air conditioning and other electrical appliances, as well as potential health risks for homeowners.

Drywall, also known as wallboard or plasterboard, are wide flat boards used to create interior walls, typically made from a chalk like mineral called gypsum. Drywall made from gypsum is regularly imported from Mexico and Canada. However, in 2004-2007 the housing boom and rebuilding efforts following Hurricanes Rita, Katrina and Wilma led to an increased demand for drywall products, leading some suppliers to import drywall from China to make up for the shortage. It is estimated that at least 550 million pounds of Chinese drywall has been imported into the United States since 2006 -- enough to build 60,000 average-size homes.

Chinese drywall product is manufactured from fly ash residue, a waste material captured from the chimneys of coal-fired power plants. When combined with moisture, heat and humidity the tainted drywall produces sulfurous acids. Released as gases, these sulfur-containing compounds can corrode copper pipes, wiring, air conditioning coils, kitchen appliances, bathroom fixtures and other metal objects, causing equipment failure and making the home smell like rotten eggs. Homeowners exposed to sulfur-based gases may also experience adverse health effects such as eye irritation, headaches, bloody nose, respiratory distress, and other symptoms resembling bronchitis and asthma.

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Identifying Contaminated Drywall

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), most of the complaints about defective drywall have come from Florida which received sixty percent of the imported Chinese drywall since 2006. But consumers from Louisiana, Virginia, Wisconsin, Ohio, Alabama, Mississippi, California, Washington, Wyoming, Arizona, Tennessee and Washington D.C. have also filed complaints with CPSC. Drywall problems have also been reported in several other states, including Maryland, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Texas, New Jersey, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico. It is estimated that defective drywall may have been used in 60,000-100,000 homes nationwide.

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Chinese drywall manufacturers Knauf Plasterboard, Tianjin Co., a subsidiary of Knauf International GmbH, and Taishan Gypsum Co. Ltd., an entity controlled by the government-owned Beijing New Building Materials Public Limited Co., are just two companies identified as sources for the defective drywall. Imported drywall can often be identified by a 'Made in China' stamp or the manufacturer's label. However, in some instances, defective drywall may have been relabeled by American suppliers and importers and may not bear a 'Made in China' label. Similar sulfur-related drywall claims have been made recently against North American manufacturers of synthetic gypsum also used in the manufacture of drywall.

Property Damage Associated with Defective Drywall

• A strong odor of sulfur or "rotten eggs" in the home
• Corrosion and deterioration of copper wiring, pipes, air conditioner and refrigerator coils, plumbing fixtures
• Failure of air-conditioning units, plumbing equipment, household appliances, electronics, or other metal components

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