On Tuesday, May 25th the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Drywall Information Center released a list of drywall manufacturers whose drywall produced high levels of hydrogen sulfide during testing.  They stated, “There is a strong association between hydrogen sulfide and metal corrosion.”

After testing they were able to determine the top ten samples which released the highest levels of hydrogen sulfide gases.  The top ten were all drywall samples made in China. Some of the emissions rates were documented at 100 times higher that drywall not produced in China.

The top ten included:

1. Knauf Plasterboard (Tianjin) Co. Ltd.: (year of manufacture 2005) China
2. Taian Taishan Plasterboard Co. Ltd.: (2006) China
3. Shandong Taihe Dongxin Co.: (2005) China
4. Knauf Plasterboard (Tianjin) Co. Ltd.: (2006) China
5. Taian Taishan Plasterboard Co. Ltd.: (2006) China
6. Taian Taishan Plasterboard Co. Ltd.: (2006) China
7. Shandong Chenxiang GBM Co. Ltd. (C&K Gypsum Board): (2006) China
8. Beijing New Building Materials (BNBM): (2009) China
9. Taian Taishan Plasterboard Co. Ltd.: (2009) China
10. Shandong Taihe Dongxin Co.: (2009) China

See the active emission levels for each sample here.

The CPSC has also listed other Chinese drywall samples that were tested but did not have significant hydrogen sulfide emission levels.

Your house may be affected by Chinese drywall and you don’t even know it! How does that make you feel? The average homeowner does not know the first thing about Chinese drywall or the signs that their home was built with this tainted product. Fortunately, once you learn about the basic signs you will probably be able to determine if your home is in trouble.

For many homeowners, the first sign of Chinese drywall is a strong smell of sulfur – much like rotten eggs. Generally speaking, the odor is usually so bad that it forces people from the home. This is far from a subtle smell.

Along with the smell, many homeowners have reported failing appliances and deteriorating pipes and wiring. Not only is this a giant inconvenience, but it is a safety hazard as well. For instance, air conditioner coils are failing after a few months, instead of lasting 10 or more years like they are supposed to.

On top of all this, and maybe most important, Chinese drywall can lead to health problems. Some of them include difficulty breathing, nose bleeds, irritated eyes, coughing, and sneezing. The long term health effects of Chinese drywall are unknown. That being said, doctors are strongly suggesting that people do not live in homes that were built with this material.

These basic signs should help you decide if your home was built with Chinese drywall.

After months of scientific testing, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released the results of its investigation Thursday.  The results: federal investigators found higher than normal levels of sulfur and strontium in Chinese drywall samples.  As a caveat, the report did not conclusively link the health problems and reported damages that thousands of U.S. homeowners have reported to the agency with the drywall directly.  Instead of an outright assertion, the CPSC said additional testing was needed and that a new report should be released at some point in November.

Strontium and sulfur have been known to cause health problems though in other contexts.  It seems the CPSC seeks to have definitive test results before releasing a report directly connecting the drywall with health concerns.  Unfortunately, this report which lacked the nexus homeowners were hoping for, has Hampton Roads residents on pins and needles.  One couple reported to WAVY.com that they were essentially using their home as a “storage unit” because of the health problems and sulfur-like odor.

The family’s attorney, Richard J. Serpe (who is also representing other homeowners in a class action suit)  told WAVY.com that he doubted the CPSC will return new reports in several weeks.  He seemed to highlight the sense of urgency of the situation, given the fact that health concerns are implicated.  He said, “When Chinese drywall [and other] toxic substances get into your body, what does it mean?  [Homeowners] can’t [afford] to wait for the years for scientists to figure . . . out [the nexus,] we need to get to it now.”  Not only are homeowners facing potential health concerns, but the presence of Chinese drywall has imposed a dire financial strain on families who have had to vacate their homes, continue to pay the mortgage, and seek refuge in a temporary rental home.

The couple who spoke with WAVY.com is not giving up hope that the scientists will turn around results quickly, and that the situation will be ultimately resolved.  One homeowner, a pastor, told WAVY, “We’re people of faith and that matters for us…what was [released by the CPSC Thursday] was [an acknowledgement] that there is a terribly serious problem that is affecting homeowners in 30 states.”

Homeowners have reported almost 2,000 complaints according to the CPSC, and chairwoman Inez Tenenbaum has stated that the agency is working with the Department of Homeland Security to halt imports of more drywall from China.  Congressional leaders have also taken note of the situation, by seeking to help homeowners in proposing low interest loans.

CPSC October 29 Status Update

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is prepared to release its results regarding the drywall investigation prompted by reports from over 1,500 consumers from over 27 States.   TheChineseDrywallLawyer.com is probing the basics of the investigation itself for the convenience of homeowners across the nation.  See the general article here.

Aside from the (perhaps) more important aspects of the health inquiry of the CPSC investigation, the agency also will be releasing, and has been studying the issue of electrical and fire safety ramifications of potentially defective drywall.  Consumers across the nation have been reporting blackening and corrosion of metal products in the home.  Specifically, reports have included failure of air conditioning units and coils, operation failures of various appliances such as dishwashers, televisions, and refrigerators.  Even video game consoles have been implicated.

The CPSC has stated that they have not received any direct complaints of fires, electrical shocks relating to drywall, however, that is not to presuppose that such problems are not impossible tangents of the issue at large.  The CPSC seems particularly concerned with the prospect of corrosion of gas pipes and fire safety devices such as fire and carbon dioxide alarms.

The CPSC investigation pertaining to electrical and fire safety components encompasses the following primary purposes:

(1)   Electrical devices

(2)   Gas service devices

(3)   Fire safety devices

The investigation, as reported by the CPSC, is a “two-part engineering component test program, (1) metallurgical analysis of various components collected from affected residences to characterize the type and extent of damage; and (2) exposure of new components to elevated levels of gases…”

Check TheChineseDrywallLawyer.com frequently for updates regarding the investigation results from the CPSC.

As the CPSC prepares to release its results regarding the drywall investigation that was sparked by reports from over 1,500 consumers from over 27 states, TheChineseDrywallLawyer.com is examining the elements and components of the investigation itself.  See the general article here.

The “Health” aspect of the investigation stems from reports of respiratory illnesses, headaches, sinus issues, acne, coughing, bloody noses, asthma, itchiness, among others.  Many homeowners have reported that the symptoms either dissipate completely or lessen to a noticeable degree when they are not in the home, but return or fluctuate upon returning to the residence.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) investigation center website, the symptoms appear to be short-term and “related to something within the home.”  Additionally, the symptoms appear to be comparable to allergies, colds, and pollutant reactions.  As such, the CPSC has noted that their investigation will seek to establish if the symptoms are resultant from the drywall or other pollutants that may be in the home.

The CPSC has stated that the following aspects of their investigation will attempt to provide data that will be a “basis for a health risk assessment.”

-          Air sampling from within the home (field studies)

-          Elemental characterization

-          Chamber studies

The air sampling measures performed by the CPSC are intended to be real-time measurements of compounds such as sulfur and acid, dangerous byproducts, and other relevant materials.  The laboratory elemental characterization studies will encompass a categorization of components of “normal” drywall and the noted differences found in the samples.  The chamber studies will seek to specifically differentiate emitted compounds from drywall as opposed to other household products such as paint, beauty products, and carpets among others.

The CPSC is expected to release investigatory results soon, and when they are released, TheChineseDrywallLawyer.com will certainly report the results as soon as they are available.

As homeowners who have been adversely affected by the presence of Chinese drywall in their homes await the results of the investigations that have been underway by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), some may be wondering the measures, inquiries, and elements of the investigation.

According to the CPSC drywall investigation website, three elements exist:

(1)   The evaluation of reported health issues in relation to the drywall at issue

(2)   The evaluation of the reported fire and electrical concerns relating to the drywall at issue; and

(3)   The evaluation of the origins, distribution, and supply chain

The CPSC has stated that the planned investigation has entailed field work, on-site visits to China, and discussion with homeowners who claim to be experiencing problems.  Since the reports have been fielded by the agency from across the nation, the CPSC has noted that it will be in contact via telephone as well as in-person if possible.

Field investigators have been placed in the States reporting issues (however, Wyoming has not seen the placement of such agents), and samples have been collected of drywall as well as electrical system components.

For a synopsis of the investigation with regard to the health aspect, see this article

For a synopsis of the safety concerns pertaining to electrical systems see this article

The CPSC has received complaints from 27 states and counting, and the drywall at issue is currently the center of multiple lawsuits filed in State and Federal courts.  The number of complaints is now approaching 2,000 nation-wide.  The investigation results are expected to be released very soon, which will potentially establish a nexus between the reports and the scientific data.

Following the atypical hurricane season of the mid-2000’s, shipping records show that over 500 million pounds of drywall were imported from China into the United States, which is enough for use in approximately 100,000 homes.

A forensic field services manager for CBI forensics recently commented that developers and contractors used Chinese drywall to save money, and given the circumstances of high demand, they needed a fast and cheap means of supplying the various components used in the construction of homes. (See lawyersandsettlements.com article here)

The CBI inspectors apparently began investigating the drywall allegations towards the end of last year.  Now, a couple years following construction of homes in question, homeowners are reporting that foul odors, corrosion in appliances, and respiratory and other illnesses are occurring.

One company, Knauf (a subsidiary of German-based Knauf, which provides close to 50 countries with drywall and other products, hired forensic experts to determine if the homeowner complaints had a basis.  According to Knauf, there were “no health concerns related to any emissions they tested in residents’ homes.” Contrastingly, private investigators that homeowners hired revealed different results, finding that corrosion was only present in houses containing Chinese drywall.  Additionally, sulfur gasses were determined to exist in some testing samples.

Pinning liability on a particular entity is something to be decided in the court of law and the attorneys and plaintiffs associated with such causes of action.  Aside from the obvious suspects (i.e., distributors, manufacturers, and suppliers and developers) it is interesting to note that some United States based investment groups had bought drywall and imported it for the installation in certain homes.  In other words, the prima-facie supply chain defendants may be not as intuitive as some may contend at first glance.

If you are a homeowner or builder who has been affected by imported drywall from China you are mostly likely already familiar with the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Drywall Information Center.  If however you are not, and are interested in monitoring the progress of the CPSC, check out there website at least once a month for new investigative results and updates.

Investigative Efforts

Since the initial inquiries in late December 2008, there have been efforts by the CPSC to investigate homes that were initially tested and confirmed to have imported drywall. Through various laboratory and field studies they hope to determine more information on the imported drywall and the related, health issues, corrosion problems and, thepath of manufacture, importation, and installation.

The CPSC has currently received 1,501 reports from 27 different states. These figures seem to increase as more and more homewoners are made aware of the symptoms and signs that they should be aware of. 

• 76% Florida
• 14%  Louisiana
• 3.1%  Virginia
• 1.4%  Mississippi
• 1.3%  Alabama
• 4%  Other States

The timeline developed by the CPSC says the we should be able to access some of the results found by these studies later this month (October 2009).

For a more detailed timeline on elemental and chemical, chamber, air sampling, and electrical and fire safety test results, view the Imported Drywall Fact Sheet provided by the CPSC.

With the influx the Consumer Product Safety Commission has seen in complaints filed regarding defective Chinese drywall, some homeowners are scratching their heads – asking the question:

What exactly is causing the health problems and metal corrosion in my home?

Authorities have see-sawed with regard to the cause of the problem (not the source).  From the outset, it was widely thought that Chinese drywall was derived from waste from coal power plants.  After various testing procedures, however, this theory was refuted.  Presently, the leading theory with regard to the question –  “Why is Chinese drywall dangerous?” – is that mined gypsum may be the cause, at least in part, of certain experienced symptoms.  Specifically, mined gypsum, as opposed to synthetic, contains levels of strontium that are considered high.

Other theorists contend that the degradation of certain bacteria is perhaps behind the often-reported foul odors and sulfuric consequences.  Logistically speaking, the transport of drywall from China requires enormous barge space.  It isn’t difficult to reach the conclusion that it is at least possible that poor shipping conditions may have possibly resulted in drywall that acquired certain bacteria, mold, etc.

To understand the question of “Why” the drywall may be causing health or property damages, one must understand that drywall itself contains adhesives as well as paper that is bound to the gypsum board.  It is feasible that the adhesives used may also be a source of dangerous compounds.

As far as radioactivity is concerned, testing performed by authorities at both the state and federal level have not conclusively discovered its presence.  Strontium, however, is widely accepted as posing potential health effects.   It is advised that homeowners who are experiencing foul odors in the home, corrosion of metals, or noticeable health effects consult an experienced attorney.  As with all matters involving living quarters and familial health, stakes are high and thus swift action is necessary.

As the growing concern of Chinese drywall is beginning to gain widespread nationwide awareness, some families are consulting their doctors for advice regarding the ultimate question of whether there is a medical necessity to leave their residence.

CNN recently reported a story about one particular South Florida family that was recently told by their family doctor that they should leave the $1.2 million home because the family members felt “sick every minute.”  While Florida has been the source of many complaints, Virginia, Wisconsin, Ohio, Alabama, Mississippi, California, Arizona, Tennessee, and Washington D.C. among other states have experienced problems.

The problems that some families are experiencing have manifested themselves in the form of foul odors that seem to be emanating from a sulfuric compound.  Household appliances have also been reported as sustaining damages.  The CPSC is currently conducting studies, and performing on-site investigations in China, to determine whether there is a connection (scientifically) between the emitted gas and the health symptoms and appliance damages.

In its September 2009 report, the CPSC has noted that the total number of incident reports is currently 1192.  Florida, Louisiana, and Virginia persist in sourcing the majority of complaints.  This past month has been a busy one for the agency, with activities worthy of mention as follows:

• Conducted data updates (followed-up with over 500 consumers
• Completed 75 investigations categorized as “in-depth”
• Completed field work for an air sampling program
• Met with Chinese government officials

While the CPSC is fielding complaints from consumers and doctors are hearing and advising homeowners who allege their ailments and damages are due to defective Chinese drywall, attorneys are also seeing an influx in families who are seeking solutions to their woes.

In Virginia, Richard J. Serpe has addressed the situation in an aggressive manner by recently holding a town-hall style meeting in Norfolk and other cities nearby.  Educating the public about the potential concerns associated with defective drywall, and updating residents on critical developments surrounding such concerns served as dual objectives of the meeting.