Tests in homes with Chinese drywall report limited information
For nearly a year, homeowners from across the country have been reporting ill effects due to imported drywall from China. Nearly 1,900 complaints from 30 states and the District of Columbia have been filed with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The CPSC and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in conjunction with other federal and state agencies, have completed their initial report on scientific testing of chemical composition, detection of emitted gases and air quality.
To the dismay of many homeowners, the results were rather inconclusive.
Higher rates of sulfur, strontium and sulfuic compounds were found in the Chinese drywall as compared to drywall manufactured in North America. However, federal officials have not been able to link these results to the homowner’s claims of metal corrosion and health problems. Reporting that these tests have been somewhat limited in their scope, officials are saying that another month of study is needed before any conclusions can be drawn.
CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson said, “We must have scientific proof of the hazards of the problem.”
Florida Senator Bill Nelson expressed his frustration with the pace of the investigation. “If you hear impatience in my voice, you are an accurate judge,” he said. “What I am reflecting is people’s concerns, their financial devastation, health effects.”
It is expected that sometime this month the results of a study of 50 homes will be released, which should include any recommendations for how to combat the problem. To date, the government has spent $3.5 million investigating issues related to Chinese drywall. It’s the largest product safety investigation in the history of the CPSC.
Posted by Sharon Walker
Tags: Chinese drywall