Chinese Drywall

Respiratory Effects from Gaseous SO₂ – Peak levels of SO₂ in the air can cause temporary breathing difficulty for people with asthma who are active outdoors.  Longer-term exposures to high levels of SO₂ gas and particles cause respiratory illness and aggravate existing heart disease.

Respiratory Effects from Sulfate Particles – SO₂ reacts with other chemicals in the air to form tiny sulfate particles.  When these are breathed, they gather in the lungs and are associated with increased respiratory symptoms and disease, difficulty in breathing, and premature death.

Short-term Peak Levels
High levels of SO₂emitted over a short period, such as a day, can be particularly problematic for people with asthma.  EPA encourages communities to learn about the types of industries in their communities and to work with local industrial facilities to address pollution control equipment failures or process upsets that could result in peak levels of SO₂.

http://www.epa.gov/oar/urbanair/so2/hlth1.html