CHINESE DRYWALL CAUSE FOR CONCERN
Drywall is a common building material typically made of a layer of gypsum-based plaster pressed between two thick sheets of paper, then dried in a kiln. Domestic drywall shortages triggered by the construction boom between 2004 and 2007 and spurred by re-construction after Hurricane Katrina, caused many builders to outsource their drywall needs to foreign manufacturers. Much of the imported drywall was manufactured in China. In fact, as much as 550 million pounds of Chinese drywall has been brought into the United States since January, 2006.
Since early 2008 when the CPSC (Consumer Products Safety Commission) received its first complaint, hundreds of homeowners have begun to suffer from the adverse effects of defective Chinese drywall. Chinese drywall is being blamed for making newer homes smell of sulfur, corroding of air conditioner and refrigerator coils, defective power outlets and smoke detectors, and a plethora of health problems.
Homeowner concerns about Chinese drywall have prompted laboratory tests which have identified emissions of the sulfurous gases carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide, and hydrogen sulfide. These emissions produce an odor not unlike that of rotten eggs and apparently worsen with increased temperature and humidity. Additionally, an EPA study found very high levels of strontium in the Chinese manufactured plasterboard.
Concerns were also raised about the presence of a radioactive material called phosphogypsum. Phosphogypsum is a by-product formed when processing phosphate ore into fertilizer and is radioactive due to the natural occurrence of uranium and radium in the ore. The substance has been banned for use in the U.S. since 1989. The Environmental Protection Agency has deemed concerns about radiation poisoning unfounded, as testing revealed levels of radiation consistent with those found in the natural environment.
While the EPA's findings may relieve homeowner anxiety with regard to radioactivity, there is still reason for concern. Both hydrogen sulfide and carbonyl sulfide are flammable gases. In addition, it is well documented that long-term exposure to carbon disulfide causes cardiovascular abnormalities and studies conducted by the CDC have shown "striking reproductive system disorders in ... workers exposed to carbon disulfide in low concentrations..." Strontium is a very volatile chemical element which when finely powdered, will ignite spontaneously at room temperature. Strontium also reacts with water, producing strontium hydroxide and hydrogen gas on contact.
It should also be noted that while symptoms vary among individual occupants of the same dwelling, the range and types of health problems seems fairly consistent across a wide spectrum of homeowners. Also, symptoms tend to dissipate when they leave their homes. Complaints of eye irritation, sinus problems, nose-bleeds, and difficulty breathing are consistent with poor air quality and exposure to chemical fumes. Is it not reasonable to assume that these symptoms are indicative of an unhealthy and potentially hazardous environment? Doesn't the presence of flammable gases, even in low concentrations significantly increase the risk of fire?
Comments(1)