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Defective Chinese Drywall

Recent and ongoing reports confirm that at least 100,000 homes in 14 US states have been contaminated with defective and corrosive drywall from China.  This Chinese drywall was installed in homes between 2001 and 2007.   Defective Chinese drywall wreaks havoc on both the human body and the home.  Please read on to learn more about Chinese drywall, its negative effects, how to look for it, and what to do if you suspect your home has Chinese drywall. 

To learn more about Chinese drywall and your ability to seek compensation for your losses, please contact our attorneys for an evaluation of your defective Chinese drywall case. 

What is Chinese drywall? 

Some drywall imported to the US from China is defective, emitting foul smelling gases that corrode copper and other metal surfaces and make people sick.  This defective drywall often has no identifying markings, making it difficult to tell by the labeling if your drywall is affected.  The affected drywall can come in different sizes, including those measuring ½”, 5/8” and 1”. 

A prevailing hypothesis is that the tainted drywall was manufactured in gypsum mines in China and that these mines used fly ash, a waste material that is a byproduct from power plants using coal.  Coal fly ash can leak into the air and emit sulfur compounds.  Others believe that bacteria in the drywall are corroding the materials thus causing them to emit sulfur. 

Chinese drywall sample testing has shown these products to contain strontium sulfide (which is a known constituent of coal fly ash), carbon disulfide, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide, which are all highly toxic chemicals that can cause serious harm to the body and the home. 

What are the effects of defective Chinese drywall? 

Defective Chinese drywall causes serious harm to both humans and home.  In the home, defective Chinese drywall corrodes and destroys electrical systems, air conditioning systems, and other metals throughout the home. 

The toxic compounds in defective drywall can affect bone growth in children.  Furthermore, long-term exposure can cause harm to the liver, skin, cardiovascular system, central nervous system, eyes, and kidneys.

The following health problems have been reported in connection to defective Chinese drywall:
           
acne, asthma attacks, bloody nose breathing difficulty, coughing, dizziness,     fatigue, gastrointestinal problems, headaches, hives, irritated eyes, nausea,         nosebleeds, phlegm, rashes, runny nose, shortness of breath, sneezing, sinus     problems, sore throat, and  urinary tract infections.

How can you determine if your home has Chinese drywall? 

A handful of methods can help to determine if your home has defective Chinese drywall.  For example, you can carefully examine electrical wiring that could have blackened due to drywall corrosion.  It is important to be very careful when handling electrical wires, as touching them can result in shock, especially if the wires have been damaged.  Also, defective Chinese drywall emits a sulfur smell akin to rotten eggs or ammonia.  However, it is possible that defective drywall will not emit this foul smell. 

It is important to have your home inspected if you believe it may contain defective and harmful Chinese drywall. 

Defective Chinese drywall and your legal rights

While some state health departments have yet to fully acknowledge the serious threats posed by defective drywall, attorneys are preparing to fight for the rights and wellbeing of those who have suffered damages due to these dangerous materials.