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IMAGE SOURCE: © iStockPhoto / drywall / author: spxChrome
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In a new report, the federal government says that Chinese drywall, used to build thousands of homes, has elevated sulfur emissions compared to that of its domestic counterparts.
However, the preliminary findings stop short of linking it to health problems, foul smells or corrosion reported by some 1,900 homeowners who filed complaints, saying further study is needed.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) as well as other agencies have been analyzing the drywall.
Senator Bill Nelson (D-Florida) said he is disappointed that the CPSC has not directly linked the drywall to asthma, headaches and nose bleeds that homeowners blame on the material. “I simply don’t think the investigation is happening fast enough,” Nelson told CPSC officials during a briefing on the investigation.
Nelson also penned a letter to President Barack Obama, urging him to discuss the drywall issue when he visits China next month.
Problem drywall has been found in 30 states and the District of Columbia, with most cases coming from Florida and Louisiana, says Nola. Some 4,000 to 7,000 Louisiana homes are believed to contain Chinese drywall and collectively face $3 billion in repairs, according to insurance industry and government estimates.
Further imports have been banned, say US safety officials. Next month, the results of a study of 50 homes will be released, along with any recommendations for how to treat the problem. #