Thread: EPA: Chinese drywall has high levels of chemicals

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EPA: Chinese drywall has high levels of chemicals

Drywall made in China has high levels of chemicals not found in domestic drywall, but officials have yet to conclude that the differences have led to health problems for thousands of homeowners.

Related Content

* Congressmen push plan for study over toxic Chinese drywall
* Efforts on Chinese drywall fix too slow, Sen. Bill Nelson says
* Chinese drywall scare hits South Florida, nation

BY NIRVI SHAH
nshah@MiamiHerald.com

Drywall imported from China used in newer homes in South Florida and other parts of the country contains sulfur, strontium and other substances that are either nonexistent or found in much lower levels in U.S.-made plasterboard, according to Environmental Protection Agency test results released Tuesday.

The EPA conducted the tests at the behest of Florida Sen. Bill Nelson and Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, who have received many complaints from homeowners about their homes smelling like rotten eggs, having health problems, corroding wires and appliances and blackening jewelry and other metals that they believe are linked to drywall imported from China.

The complaints stretch across 10 states and are primarily from people living in homes built from about 2004 to 2008.

The problems have triggered many individual and class-action lawsuits, including some on behalf of South Florida residents. Some builders have also sued Chinese drywall manufacturers for failing to control the quality of their product and failing to notify customers it was defective.

''We now know there are three things in there that aren't in other drywall samples,'' Nelson said in a statement Tuesday, after reviewing the EPA's test results. 'We've got the `what' and now we need the 'why' -- and, how do we fix it?''

Millions of square feet of drywall were imported into the United States during the housing boom and following catastrophic hurricane seasons that washed away many homes. U.S. manufacturers could not meet the demand for the product. Some estimates say as many as 100,000 homes contain foreign drywall.

Earlier this year, Florida Department of Health tests showed results similar to the EPA's conclusions: U.S.-made drywall contained strontium at much lower levels than foreign drywall, and the Chinese product had three sulfur compounds that could lead to an odor.

They said their results show a possible link between the sulfur compounds and corrosion of copper air conditioning coils.

As of Tuesday, the department had logged nearly 400 complaints about problems associated with drywall, including many from Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties.

EPA tests on a Chinese drywall samples from Florida homes and U.S.-made drywall bought in New Jersey show that the imported material contained sulfur, unlike the domestic product. The foreign-made gypsum board also had strontium at 10 times the rate of U.S. drywall.

The material made abroad also had organic material associated with acrylic paint not found in U.S.-made plasterboard. Both products have varying amounts of iron.

But the EPA would not say their findings show a link between the experiences of homeowners and the drywall.

Nelson and Landrieu are scheduled to request more money Wednesday to continue the investigation of the imported product. On Thursday, the Senate Commerce Committee, on which Nelson sits, will hold a hearing on the issue.

Landrieu will testify, along with experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the EPA, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, a Florida homeowner affected by the drywall and a Louisiana home builder.

The EPA said it is still working on creating a standard for states to test air quality in homes with Chinese drywall and hopes to establish that by the end of June.

''These initial tests provide some answers for our impacted homeowners,'' Landrieu said, ``but also raise more questions.''

http://www.miamiherald.com/business/story/1056436.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 09, 2009

Landrieu Supports Increased Funding for CPSC to Study Defective Chinese Drywall

Consumer Product Safety Commission provides testing status report to Appropriations Committee.

WASHINGTON -- United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today voted in favor of a funding increase for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to bolster and expedite the study and testing of defective Chinese drywall. The 2010 Financial Services Appropriations Bill, which was approved by the Appropriations Committee today, includes $115 million for the CPSC -- $9.5 million above last year's funding level.

"Families in Louisiana and across the country have seen their dream homes turn into nightmares because of this defective Chinese drywall," Sen. Landrieu said. "Consumers and small businesses in 21 states and the District of Columbia have serious concerns about the potential health and financial impacts of this tainted product. The CPSC provide consumers with answers as quickly as possible, and the funding contained in this appropriations bill will accelerate that process. I thank the Committee for their attention to this issue and will continue to work to help impacted families and protect other consumers in the future."

At the request of Sen. Landrieu and Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Appropriations Committee leadership sent a letter to the CPSC on June 3, 2009, requesting the agency re-allocate $2 million in existing 2009 funds to expedite Chinese drywall testing and investigation. The letter also requested monthly status reports to Congress. This action mirrored the Nelson-Landrieu amendment considered during the Senate's debate on the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act in May.

In its first report received by the Appropriations Committee this week, the CPSC outlined steps in analyzing the potential health effects of this drywall. The health assessment will consist of an elemental analysis, emission chamber studies and in-home indoor air sampling. The CPSC reported that initial test results are expected back as early as next month. Without the push from Sen. Landrieu, Sen. Nelson and the Appropriations Committee results could have been delayed into early 2010.

*Using 15 samples, the elemental analysis will characterize the components of domestic and imported drywall. The samples will be tested for organic compounds, inorganic compounds, metals and other properties. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will complete its analysis by August 21, 2009.

*The purpose of the chamber studies is to isolate the drywall's chemical emissions from other products in the home, such as carpet, paint and adhesives. This testing will allow CPSC staff to determine which gases are emitted from each drywall sample. The first phase of this analysis will be completed by late August and a preliminary health risk assessment will be reported by CPSC in mid to late September.

*In-home indoor air sampling will be carried out in 50 homes. This work will consist of residential building characterization and indoor environmental measurements. The sampling will begin on July 20, with laboratory analysis and a final report to be completed by mid-September.

The CPSC indicated that it is working closely with officials from China to inspect the tainted drywall, and is establishing a "chain of commerce" to learn more about when and where the defective product was imported. The CPSC will also conduct an engineering analysis to determine the effects of emissions from Chinese drywall on electrical, gas and home ventilations components. Affected home owners have reported metal corrosion of air conditioning units, copper pipes, and electrical wiring caused by emissions from the defective imported drywall.

According to published reports, since 2006 more than 550 million pounds of drywall have been imported to the United States from China -- enough material to make tens of thousands of homes. However, these products may have come into the country as far back as 2000 and could be in over 100,000 homes nationwide. Florida is estimated to be the No. 1 destination of this product, with Louisiana at No. 2.

The CPSC now has received reports of tainted Chinese drywall from more than 600 homeowners nationwide. During a hearing held at Sen. Landrieu's request, Louisiana homebuilders estimated that the product is present in about 500 Louisiana homes. Import data suggests enough drywall to make as much as 5,000 homes came through the Port of New Orleans, indicating that the problem could be more far reaching across the Gulf Coast.

http://landrieu.senate.gov/releases/09/2009709B35.html