Senators Seek Ban on Chinese Drywall
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U.S. Senators Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.) have introduced a bill to Congress that calls for the recall of Chinese drywall that has been the source of damage to thousands of homes in recent years. The defective Chinese drywall contains sulfur compounds that are allegedly emitted from the plasterboard in conditions of high heat and humidity, an unavoidable condition in many southern states.
The sulfurous compounds emitted from the defective drywall cause corrosion of copper and other metals leading to costly repairs for homeowners. Some homeowners have had to replace their air conditioning units numerous times in a period of only a few years due to heavy corrosion of the copper found within the units. Others have seen problems with electrical wiring and electrical equipment failure as a result of corrosion.
Most incidents of Chinese drywall home damage have been found in Florida, but others have surfaced in Georgia, Virginia and even Texas.
Traditionally drywall used in American homes has been produced in the United States; however, between 2004 and 2006 a shortage of American-made drywall found some builders exploring other procurement avenues, namely China.
While home damage from Chinese drywall has been a hot topic of conversation since problems first became national news in January, even more concerning are reports of individuals suffering from physical ailments after living in homes fitted with the Chinese drywall.
No definitive evidence has come to light that confirms Chinese–made drywall as a source of respiratory problems in individuals living in these homes, but many suspect it is only a matter of time before a link is established. It easily conceivable that if the fumes or odors coming from the defective drywall can corrode wiring enough to cause serious damage to homes, these same emissions could be detrimental to the health of the human.
Florida’s health department and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are conducting probes into possible health risks associated with Chinese drywall.
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against one Chinese drywall manufacturer, Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd. of Tianjin. The lawsuit alleges that the defective Chinese drywall has caused extensive damage and rendered 60,000 homes in 13 Sunbelt states uninhabitable.
Has your home damaged or have you experienced health problems that you believe to be associated with Chinese drywall in your home?
Contact one of our Chinese drywall attorneys for a free consultation.