Drywall shortages during the building boom in 2004 and 2006 prompted many builders to buy drywall from China

May 7, 2009 the Agency for Toxic Substance and Diease Registry (ATSDR) contacted the Enironmental
Respones Team (ERT) office of Superfund Remediation for analytical assitance with the Chinese-Drwall
Manufactured and sent to Florida  and Georgia. Drywall shortages during the building boom in 2004 and
2006 prompted many builders to buy drywall from China.

Hundreds of millions of sheets of Chinese drywall were imported during this time. It is estimated that Georgia received over 6,050,370 lbs of the drywall. This equates to approximately 67,000 sheets of wallboard, enough drywall to build 670 single family homes. It has been determined that compounds from this product may contain butanethial, carbonyl sulfide, hydrogen sulfide, and strontium sulfide. The ATSDR requested that ERT conduct an independent analysis of Chinese Drywall, and six differant USA manufacture drywall. Six differant wallboard were selected for analysis.

The testing returned to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has declared many of these compounds to be toxic. Some Chinese wall board emitting rotten egg odors and causing corrosion to copper(e.g,power switehes,appliances. Many homeowners have been reporting physical ailments such as irritated eyes, sneezing, sinus problems, sore throats, asthma related symptoms, nosebleed, fatigue, headaches, and other unexplained symptoms, as well as an unusual odor in their homes similar to rotten eggs or ammonia.

This drywall has also been found to corrode electrical wiring, copper water lines, brass and silver hardware,
and plumbing fixtures. Electrical failures, A/C failures, and tarnished plumbing fixtures are all indications
that you have Chinese drywall.

The analysis was conducted to identify the elemental material contained in the drywall samples and is not
itsely intended to establish a definitive link between the drywall and conditions Reported to the EPA.

*Sulfur was detected at 83 parts per million(ppm) and 119 ppm in the chinese drywall samples. None is
U.S. manufactured drywall.

* Stronium was detected at 2,570 ppm in Chiness drywall, and 244ppm in U.S. Drywall.Acid solube sulfides
were not detected in any sample.
*Iron at 1,390ppm to 1,630ppm in chinese drywall and 841 ppm to 3,210ppm in US manufactured drywall samples.

Inspection and material testing are the best approach if you suspect your home to have the tainted drywall. Material testing requires a sample of the drywall to be taken and submitted to an accredited laboratory for analysis.

 
This is the most accurate method to test for the drywall. Proper documentation is key in successful Chinese drywall investigations. This requires a thorough investigation to document exposed metal components and the extent of their exposure to the corrosive vapor.

It is most important to have a you home inspect and test your home or commercial property. There are Multiple detection methods available to identify Chinese drywall, but be aware that air sampling has been found to be accurate in detecting these marker compounds. We recommend lab testing.If you think you have Chinese drywall,and would like to have testing performed. Please give us a call. You may have some legal resourses to turn to help remove if this is a problem in your home.

Accurate Home Inspection of Atlanta Indoor air quality testing, mold, asbestos, lead,Etc.......... IQA2 Certified by the EPA. Reasonable Rates.

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