Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate committee on appropriations has allocated a $9.6 million increase in funding for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, citing in part the agency’s need to investigate tainted drywall products.

In the 2010 Financial Services Appropriations Bill, which was approved by the senate committee last Thursday, the CPSC was given $115 million – a 9.1 percent increase over last year’s funding and $8 million more than what the agency had requested for its budget.

“Families … across the country have seen their dream homes turn into nightmares because of this defective Chinese drywall,” Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., said in a statement praising the increased funding.

Some drywall imported from China between 2000 and 2008 has been found to give off sulfuric odors thought to corrode metal components in homes such as air-conditioning coils, silver frames and copper wiring. Some homeowners have blamed it for respiratory trouble, nosebleeds, headaches and other health problems.

In addition, other homeowners have claimed that some American-made drywall gives off the same sulfuric odors.

The U.S. House committee on appropriations also has approved increased funding for the CPSC, which is the lead governmental agency investigating the tainted drywall issue.

According to a press release from that committee, the CPSC was allocated $113 million for the 2010 fiscal year – an $8 million increase above last year and $6 million more than the budget request.

The statement from the House committee said part of that money should be used to expand the Import Safety Initiative, which puts CPSC inspectors at key U.S. ports.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/business/content/business/epaper/2009/07/13/drywallfunding13.html

South Florida Business Journal – by Paul Brinkmann

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tests of high-sulfur Chinese drywall have confirmed differences between the imported material and U.S.-made drywall, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson said Tuesday.

The new EPA tests showed the Chinese-made drywall contained sulfur that was not in U.S. drywall, strontium (a metallic element) at levels 10 times as high as in U.S. drywall and two other organic compounds generally found in acrylic paint that were not detected in any U.S.-made wallboard, according to a news release.

“We now know there are three things in there that aren’t in other drywall samples,” Nelson, a Florida Democrat, said in the release. “We’ve got the what, and now we need the why and how do we fix it? In the end, I think all this stuff is going to have to be ripped out.”

Nelson’s office said the EPA has determined more tests are needed, including air sampling in affected houses, to determine whether the drywall is the cause of corroded wiring and appliances and the alleged health problems. Nelson said he and Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana, will file an amendment to pending legislation to provide emergency funds for further investigation and continued testing.
http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2009/05/18/daily29.html

It’s not just newer houses at risk. The big focus has been on houses built during the 2004 to 2006 construction boom. Hurricanes Charley and Wilma happened in those years. There was a huge drywall shortage during those times. Suppliers turned to China.

Della White, who runs Environmental Service Group in North Fort Myers, first started looking into the problem about six months ago.

“I talked to an HVAC contractor and he said it maybe something to do with the drywall. We’ve been having trouble with something… and it’s hush hush Della,” said White.

Until now.

Southwest Florida builders are getting complaints about people getting sick and foul smells.

“Like a new box of matches. You open a box it smells like that… sulphury,” said White.

And copper going bad… things like electrical wiring and air conditioner coils are costing homeowners big bucks.

“I had one person call me that’s concerned about what’s going on. So she took off the electrical outlets, because of the copper wire that’s in there, and it’s all black,” said White.

So far, everyone’s focusing on homes built in Florida during the 2004 to 2006 boom years. But the director of a certifying agency for indoor air quality inspectors says they’re expecting the problem to grow now in new Orleans because of Katrina repairs and a high demand for drywall he says people here who had wind and water damage from Charley and Wilma could have this problem too.

White says it’s something to watch out for. “Drywall replacement problem… Oh yes… absolutely… It depends on where the drywall comes from,” said White.

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Source: http://www.winknews.com/news/local/36655184.html