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Homes May Be Contaminated With Toxic Chinese Drywall
Recent news reports have pointed to a new concern in housing construction, a contamination of drywall imported from China. Claims by homeowners have begun surfacing alleging that the imported drywall is releasing toxic chemicals which are corroding copper wires, tarnishing silver, and most importantly, may be causing health problems for residents.
The Source of Contamination: Chinese Drywall
The drywall in question was imported in to the U.S. around 2006, when builders were experiencing high demand for new housing in the Southeast following Gulf Coast hurricanes Katrina and Rita. With such a large market for housing construction, many building suppliers found themselves lacking many essential building materials, including drywall. Shipments of Chinese drywall were readily available and cheaper than drywall manufactured in the U.S. In fact, some of the materials manufactured in China bore a phony logo of a U.S. company.
While the material source of the contamination is known, the cause of the contamination is still subject to speculation. Many toxicologists hypothesize that the dangerous drywall was manufactured in gypsum mines which are contaminated with fly ash, a waste product of coal given off after it is burned for power. Others point to the idea that the drywall contains sulfur emitting bacteria. These shipments of drywall were kept on barges at sea for months awaiting clearance for entry in to port. Yet another theory is that the adhesive binding the paper to the drywall is contaminated.
Identifying Contaminated Chinese Drywall
Regardless of which theory is correct, the fact remains that the drywall may be emitting toxic gases which are dangerous to homeowners and corrosive to metals. Identifying contaminated drywall can be as easy as unscrewing the plate off of a light socket and checking the copper grounding wire for corrosion. An overly corroded wire in a new home is a good indication of the presence of the defective drywall. Another good indicator is the copper tubing on air conditioning units, which will be corroded and blackened. With any procedure involving electrical appliances, contacting an experienced professional is advisable as there is a risk of electrical shock. Additionally, the drywall has been noted to produce a smell similar to rotten eggs when temperatures and humidity increase.
Initial tests of the contaminated drywall has revealed strontium sulfide as the toxic, malodorous gas. This gas may be dangerous to children during their developmental years as it has been shown to affect bone growth. Prolonged exposure to the gas could cause problems in the central nervous system and other vital organs. It is also possible that particulate matter from the drywall could adhere to other parts of the house, causing contamination to spread away from the walls and through the rest of the house.
Quality Legal Advice from a Chinese Drywall Lawyer
Several dozen homeowners have already filed lawsuits in Florida, Louisiana, Ohio, and Virginia. Many of these class action lawsuits have targeted building contractors, suppliers, and the drywall manufacturers. Contacting an experienced attorney early may provide a homeowner affected by the Chinese drywall problem recoup a portion of their investment. You may be entitled to monetary compensation through a Chinese drywall class action lawsuit.
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