I work in a Forensic Architecture firm in Colorado, and we recently discovered some problems with the drywall that was being used in one of the projects we are working on. We were able to see the studs through the drywall and on top of that, the whole building had this particular smell that, after a day of inspection made us think if it was normal or not. Back in the office, a few days later, we discovered that the smell came from the walls. We realized it was drywall made in China. Chinese drywall was imported into the U.S. during a different economic era, at the height of a housing boom. Prices were sky high, and the country was hit by two active hurricane seasons in 2004 and 2005, increasing the demand for home repairs. It was mainly imported to reduce costs to rebuild houses damaged by hurricane Katrina in 2005. Suppliers were forced to look elsewhere for their drywall supply. Drywall, made from gypsum, is regularly imported from Mexico and Canada, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, but during this time frame, the U.S. looked to China to make up for the shortage.
Symptoms: Defective drywall is said to exhibit several symptoms, including giving off a hydrogen sulfide (rotten-egg) smell that grows worse with heat and humidity, and causing blackened and corroded copper pipes and silver jewelery.
Why is it bad?: Chinese defective drywall is reported to emit potentially toxic chemicals, including carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide and hydrogen sulfide. In large amounts these chemicals could pose a serious health threat to those affected, including respiratory ailments, headaches, nose bleeds, tightness in the chest and dry eyes. In addition, the toxic chemicals produced reportedly corrode metals within a building, causing damage to electronic equipment, wires, pipes and air conditioning systems manufactured with copper.
The Gypsum Association says that enough drywall was imported from China to build 30,000 complete homes. Most of the Chinese drywall, they say, ended up in southwest Florida during the housing boom, where it was used in new housing developments. Some was also used in remodeling projects all over the country, so the number of homes affected is difficult to calculate.
The Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are doing studies on the health effects, but those examinations are some time away from completion.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is having ongoing conversations with Chinese officials, who will be sending a representative to the United States to study the problem. A handful of Chinese companies have been sued by homeowners and home builders (This is why I have a job... law suits!! In the specific case we are working on, we are defending the homeowners of a high rise building in downtown Denver). The Consumer Product Safety Commission says most complaints have come from Florida, where the concerns emerged last year. But consumers also have filed complaints in Louisiana, Virginia, Wisconsin, Ohio, Alabama, Mississippi, California, Washington, Wyoming, Arizona, Tennessee and Washington, D.C. and as information circulates about this newly discovered defect, the agency is expecting that number to grow substantially. Tens of thousands of newer homes throughout the United States may be at risk of contamination.
In April 2009, home improvement stores The Home Depot and Lowe's confirmed from their suppliers that no drywall sold in their stores was imported from China.
As for me, I don't complain, since this issue, just gives us more work!! :)
