Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

The federal government has launched a new section of its web site called the Drywall Information Center. The agency developed the section in an effort to field consumer questions and complaints about the influx of tainted Chinese-made drywall to the U.S. that occurred in 2006 and 2007 when domestic drywall supplies ran low.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says it has received close to 2,000 reports of drywall ruining electrical wiring, air conditioner coils, fixtures, and appliances because it emits corrosive sulfuric fumes. Homeowners affected by the Chinese drywall also report a variety of respiratory health problems and a constant foul odor that makes their homes unlivable.

The web site assimilates information from four government agencies involved in the investigation and handling of the toxic drywall problem. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are collaborating with the CPSC in disseminating important information to the public. The web site includes a standardized form consumers may use to report suspected toxic drywall problems directly to the CPSC.

According to the drywall web site, the CPSC has received reports and complaints from 30 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. In addition to the reports received by the CPSC, a number of complaints have been submitted to state and local authorities. Based on customs records, authorities estimate 500,000 pounds of drywall entered the U.S. from China during the building boom – enough drywall to use in 100,000 homes.

The CPSC is conducting an ongoing investigation to determine the origins and scope of the drywall problem. According to the agency, one of the biggest challenges “has been figuring out how much problem drywall there is in any house, given that it is already installed, likely painted and may not be clearly marked. The drywall could fill the home or be just a few sheets.”

The vast majority of the toxic drywall was installed in Florida homes (69 percent), followed by Louisiana (18 percent). Homes in Alabama, Mississippi, and Virginia were also heavily affected.

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 14th, 2009 at 7:10 am and is filed under News, product liability, safety, toxic injury. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.