A government study of homes built with Chinese-made drywall found a "strong association" between the wallboard and metal corrosion and a "possible" connection between sulfide gases emitted by the wallboard and health problems reported by home- owners across the country, federal investigators reported Monday.
"We can say we believe that there are a number of different compounds, a number of different chemicals, that when brought together can be related to some of the irritant and health effects that we've been getting reports of at CPSC," said Scott Wolfson, a spokesman for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is leading a $3.5 million, multi-agency investigation. "But we're still working toward that exact nexus between the health effects reported to us and the drywall itself."
Investigators found levels of both hydrogen sulfide and formaldehyde in the homes, but individually, each of the compounds were below levels typically thought to cause irritation.
Government agencies studied indoor air quality in 51 homes, 41 of which were known to have been built with the tainted drywall, including several in Virginia. In the study, scientists placed small copper and metal strips in the homes to test the relationship between the drywall and corrosion.
The investigators found that the strips showed "significantly higher" corrosion in homes that were built with the Chinese-made drywall. They also found that high humidity and temperatures seem to exacerbate the corrosion problems.
"We now have the science that enables the task force to move ahead to the next phase, to develop both a screening process and effective remediation methods," Wolfson said. "We are now ready to get to work fixing this problem."
Last month, the commission reported that the Chinese-made drywall emits higher levels of volatile sulfur gases than typical U.S.-made drywall. Scientists with the Environmental Protection Agency reported earlier this year that the imported drywall contains higher levels of compounds of sulfur and strontium.
An additional study of the long-term issues, which the commission said will simulate decades of metal exposure to the drywall, is set to be completed by June. That study will also look at whether long-term corrosion creates a fire hazard.
"This announcement allows the federal government to get to work fixing the problem by developing an approved process for identifying, screening and then remediating the homes impacted by this contaminated drywall," Sen. Mark Warner said in a joint statement with Sen. Jim Webb.
The Virginia senators also said Monday's announcement enables lawmakers to begin working with the Internal Revenue Service to determine how some homeowners might qualify for casualty loss tax deductions.
Federal agencies have received reports of the problem drywall from more than 2,000 homeowners in 32 states.
At least 150,000 sheets of Chinese-made drywall were imported by a Norfolk construction supplier, enough to build more than 300 homes. The drywall has since been found in housing developments in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News, Chesapeake, Williamsburg and northeastern North Carolina.
Josh Brown, (757) 446-2318, josh.brown@pilotonline.com
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survey said lest costly
Isn't it great that we live in a country that will sell you a house for 200k-600k+ out of the cheapest materials they can buy. For the sole purpose of maximizing profits. Then after it puts you up to your eye balls in debt you find out that its toxic. Way to go free market economy. Normally its said you get what you pay for but in this case you get what some one else paid for, while you get shafted.
A little more info
A little more info on what companies imported the drywall into Virginia, which contractors used it, and so on would have been helpful. Also there is a 'drop dead' date for a consolidated complaint by homeowners coming up --- would have made a nice mention in the story, as well.