Chinese Drywall Studies Released by CPSC, EPA, HUD, CDC, and ATSDR

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received thousands of reports involving corroding metal components in houses built using Chinese drywall materials. The Chinese Drywall complaints and reports come from 30 US States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Homeowners report corrosion or blackening of metal in or on electrical fixtures, appliances, plumbing and air conditioner coils.

The homes built using drywall imported from China were constructed mostly in 2006 and 2007, often in areas affected by hurricanes.

Partial October 2009 Press Statement on Chinese Drywall Reports by Government Agencies:

Since the early spring, the federal government has dedicated significant resources to helping families affected by the drywall issue in their homes. The government has been and continues to be committed to providing answers and solutions to these homeowners. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and numerous state departments of health have been working together to investigate and analyze how Chinese made drywall entered into the country, where it was used, what is in it, and what impact it may have on human health and corrosion of electrical and fire safety components.

This is a complicated problem, and we have several studies and other activities underway to help bring the best possible science to bear. The first sets of data released today start to explain differences between Chinese and non-Chinese drywall, but more remains to be learned. We are sharing what we know at this point and are outlining the next steps as we continue to work to answer homeowners’ questions about what is causing the effects reported and observed.

FAQ From the US Consumer Product Safety Commission

How can I tell if my home has problem drywall?

Answer: We are currently not aware of any definitive test to determine if a home has problem drywall. Nevertheless, you might consider contacting your homebuilder to ask about the materials used in construction.

Consumers raising concerns about drywall have typically identified a “rotten egg” smell within their house, several health symptoms while in the home, and corrosion or blackening of certain metal items. Consumers have also reported frequent failures of copper piping in air conditioning units.