Posts Tagged ‘CPSC’
Thousands of Americans say Chinese drywall is ruining their homes, making them ill
Saturday, August 29, 2009
By Cindy Skrzycki, GlobalPost
On the outside, they are new and sunny looking. On the inside, they are strange-smelling and rotting. These are the thousands of new houses built in the United States within the past few years that owners allege may contain yet another problem export from China: bad drywall.
Since 2006, new home owners in 23 states have been suffering from what they say are odorous batches of corrosive drywall that were imported from at least one gypsum mine in China and used by U.S home builders.
Owners say their houses smell like rotten eggs and are causing breathing problems and skin irritations. They worry their homes have become worthless, as air conditioners and other mechanical parts corrode and become nonfunctioning. The problem is thought to be high levels of sulfur-compound gases being released from the drywall.
Homes that are affected were built in the aftermath of hurricanes in 2005 when building booms in Florida and Louisiana contributed to domestic drywall shortages, causing suppliers to look to China.
Unlike other tainted imports from China — such as formula, toothpaste and pet food, which can be swiftly taken off retail shelves — gypsum drywall cannot be easily removed since it is behind walls and ceilings, affecting the performance of plumbing, wiring, and electrical systems.
Attorneys representing homeowners estimate more than 2,000 lawsuits already have been filed in state and federal courts, targeting Chinese, U.S. and German companies, as well as builders, installers, suppliers, distributors and import brokers.
“We expect about 20 manufacturers of Chinese drywall to be involved in these cases,” said Jeremy Alters, an attorney in Miami handling many of the cases. “There is no quality control in this drywall. It’s hard to believe no one knew it was bad. It is destroying homes and it will cost billions.”
One of the most prominent Chinese manufacturers named is Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd. Others are Knauf Plasterboard Wuhu Co. Ltd and Knauf Plasterboard Dongguan Co. Ltd., as well as a German affiliate, Knauf Gips KG. There are numerous other Chinese companies being added to legal complaints as time goes on, such as Beijing New Building Material PLC.
So serious are the potential cost and health implications that several U.S. federal agencies, members of Congress, states and health and legal authorities are assessing the scope of the problem.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in Washington is leading the investigation. It received permission from the Chinese government to send a team of scientists and compliance officials to China on Aug. 16 to investigate what is thought to be the source of the problem — the Luneng mine in Shandong province, and other mines in the area.
“To visit the mines that this came out of will be a valuable part of our investigation,” said Scott Wolfson, CPSC spokesman.
The agency estimates 6.2 million sheets of the drywall were imported into the United States. At least three dozen builders are involved, not counting those who went out of business during the current economic crisis.
Some 810 complaints have been filed with the CPSC.
“I have personally visited a number of these homes and have seen firsthand how serious this situation is for families living with this toxic drywall,” said Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla.
Mr. Wexler, a leader in the newly formed, 14-member Congressional Contaminated Drywall Caucus, said homeowners have reported bronchitis, pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses, while “pregnant women have been instructed … to move out of their homes to avoid health risks to their unborn children.”
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09241/993994-28.stm#ixzz0PlDUc3Ri
CPSC Press Statement Regarding Drywall and Phosphogypsum
Responding to recent news accounts about the possibility of imported drywall containing
radioactive phosphogypsum, federal and state agency radiation laboratories analyzed
multiple samples of drywall obtained by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) and the Florida Department of Health (FLDOH).
Twenty-one samples were analyzed from homes and manufacturers of drywall. Seventeen were obtained by CPSC
from manufacturers and suppliers in multiple states, and four were obtained by FLDOH
from homes exhibiting copper corrosion, odors and occupant complaints. Results of the
phosphogypsum testing showed levels that do not pose a radiation safety risk to families.
FLDOH’s Radiation Laboratory and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
National Air and Radiation Environmental Laboratory (NAREL) analyzed the samples
for evidence of phosphogypsum contamination. Evaluation of the analysis by a federal
and state technical team of scientists from CPSC, EPA, FLDOH, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
(ATSDR), Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, and Virginia Department of
Health has concluded that the samples had no elevated levels of radioactivity. The levels
were comparable to “background” levels found in soil, brick and concrete.
Chinese Drywall Help Sought from White House, Federal Agencies
A group of U.S. Senators sent out a series of letters yesterday – including one that went to the White House – asking for more action on the Chinese drywall problem. Similar letters were sent to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The Consumer Products Safety Commission has received 681 complaints from residents of 22 states regarding Chinese drywall. The most reports – 510 – have come from Florida. Homeowners have complained that fumes from the Chinese drywall produce a “rotten eggs” odor that permeates their homes, and causes metal, including air conditioning coils and even jewelry, to corrode. Eye irritation, sinus problems and respiratory symptoms have also been reported among people living in homes containing Chinese drywall.
Recently, tests conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency revealed that Chinese-manufactured drywall contained elevated levels of strontium sulfide, as well as several organic compounds associated with the production of acrylic paint which were not present in samples of U.S.-made drywall. Recently, some concerns have arisen that some Chinese drywall could also be radioactive. According to an LA Times investigation, some Chinese drywall manufacturers used phosphogypsum – a radioactive phosphorous substance – to manufacture wallboard. At least four manufacturers told the Times that drywall made with phosphogypsum was shipped to the U.S. in 2006. Phosphogypsum contains radium which, over time, can increase lung cancer risks. Phosphogypsum has been banned in the U.S. for use in construction since 1989.
The letter to the White House was sent by Senator Bill Nelson, D-FL. According to Herald-Tribune.com, Nelson asked the Obama Administration to take a more active role in dealing with the Chinese drywall debacle. “What urgently is needed now is White House mobilization and coordination of all federal resources that can help homeowners,” Nelson wrote.
Nelson joined three other senators, Mary Landrieu D-LA, Mark Warner, D-VA., and Jim Webb, D-VA. – in writing to the other government agencies. According to Herald-Tribune.com, the Senators have asked the Small Business Administration to investigate if disaster relief loans could be made available to some Chinese drywall victims, and whether governors in states with drywall problems could declare a “physical disaster declaration”.
The letters to the Treasury and HUD sought financial relief for homeowners who have been forced to leave their homes and must pay both rent and mortgagee payments, Herald-Tribune.com said.
http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/10121
Investigators to get more money for tainted Chinese drywall
By ALLISON ROSS
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
US Consumer Product Saftey Commission Launches a new website
CPSC Launches a new website to help homeowners keep track of the agency’s investigation into toxic drywall manufactured in China. The CPSC has only received 365 reports from residents in 18 states. If you have not filed a complaint please click here to do so.