Why is Chinese drywall toxic?

The contaminated drywall has high levels of sulfur, which may be responsible for a rotten egg smell in affected homes, blackened or corroded pipes, failure of air conditioners and other household appliances, and health problems such as asthma, coughing, headaches, sore throats, and irritated eyes.

Is Chinese drywall harmful?

What are the health symptoms and risks of Chinese drywall? The most frequently reported symptoms are irritated and itchy eyes and skin, difficulty in breathing, persistent cough, bloody noses, runny noses, recurrent headaches, sinus infection, and asthma attacks.

Does Chinese drywall contain asbestos?

Modern drywall and taping compound do not contain asbestos.

What is Chinese drywall made out of?

Drywall, also known as plasterboard, is a building material typically consisting of gypsum-based plaster extruded between two thick sheets of paper and kiln-dried.

When did they stop using Chinese drywall?

Some drywall coming from plants in China has been found to include phosphogypsum, a radioactive phosphorus substance. Phosphogypsum contains radium. Exposure to radium, over time, can increase your risk for lung cancer. The EPA banned the use of phosphogypsum for U.S. firms in 1989.

Chinese Drywall Nightmare

Should you buy a house with Chinese drywall?

As mentioned, asking for an inspection is the best way to protect yourself, even if there is no report of it from the seller. If Chinese drywall is found, you can negotiate the deal with your agent. It is quite costly to repair the defective drywall, as you essentially have to gut the house and rebuild the walls.

What do you do if your house has Chinese drywall?

If you suspect that you have Chinese drywall in your home, you should have it tested. You'll need to find a reputable inspector to confirm that it is the contaminated Chinese drywall. If you do have Chinese drywall, it should also be reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Can you live with Chinese drywall?

Risks to Health and Home

Some homeowners with Chinese drywall report a strong sulfur smell, similar to that of rotten eggs, permeating their homes. Health problems are said to include headaches, respiratory ailments, irritated eyes, and nosebleeds.

How do you know if your house has Chinese drywall?

The smell from the corrosive gas emitted from Chinese drywall is very potent and smells similar to rotten eggs. This noticeable indicator may tell you that your drywall is from China. From your attic, take a look at your drywall for the name KNAUF. The drywall may also say Knauf Plasterboard (Tianjin).

Does insurance cover Chinese drywall?

Chinese drywall caused damage that was barred from coverage under a homeowners insurance policy because of several exclusions for (1) faulty, inadequate, or defective materials; (2) latent defects; (3) rust or corrosion; and (4) pollution.

What does Chinese drywall smell like?

Does Chinese drywall pose health risks? The Consumer Product Safety Commission has identified gases emitted from Chinese drywall from samples of imported drywall and from analyzing the air in homes built with defective drywall. The gases that are emitted can smell like “rotten eggs” and may irritate some individuals.

What year did they use Chinese drywall in Florida?

The use of Chinese drywall in Florida homes and buildings occurred between 2004 and 2006, during the housing boom. At the center of the drywall problems in Florida is Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co.

Does drywall off gas?

Drywall can release sulfur dioxide gas when burned, which is poisonous to both humans and the atmosphere.

How do you know if drywall is toxic?

Why does my house smell like drywall?

If your home's plumbing gets the all-clear and your home still has that rotten egg smell, you may have an issue with toxic drywall. The sulphur in the drywall will off-gas once there's humidity in the air, which can cause health problems and can also corrode any exposed copper pipes or wiring in your home.

Was Chinese drywall used in California?

Lennar Says Chinese Drywall Not to Blame for Problems in California Homes. Defective Chinese Drywall In California Homes. Some homeowners in the California desert town of Indio are experiencing the foul odors and corrosion problems seen in homes built with Chinese drywall.

Does Chinese drywall cause mold?

The Chinese drywall exported from 2001-2009 was found to be defective, containing high levels of the sulfurous gases – carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide, and hydrogen sulfide. These emissions, which have the odor of rotten eggs, worsen as temperature and humidity rise.

Can you sell a home with Chinese drywall?

There is not a specific question about Chinese drywall on the sellers disclosure but IF a seller knows they have it, they should disclose it. Your best protection as a buyer is to get an inspection by a real estate inspector that does an inspection specifically for Chinese drywall.

Does Chinese drywall have to be disclosed?

Even if the home is sold "as is," a seller by law has obligation to disclose anything that affects value of the property. There is no law a seller has to do an inspection. If something wrong surfaces, the buyer has to prove the seller knew about it. The average cost of fixing a home with drywall is about $100,000.

What does Chinese drywall damage look like?

The contaminated drywall has high levels of sulfur, which may be responsible for a rotten egg smell in affected homes, blackened or corroded pipes, failure of air conditioners and other household appliances, and health problems such as asthma, coughing, headaches, sore throats, and irritated eyes.

Is all drywall toxic?

To answer your question in short: drywall dust is not toxic to the body in smaller amounts. This means it will not cause any long-term diseases. However, it can irritate parts of the body, like the eyes and throat. This is because it is made of a chemical known as gypsum (calcium sulfate dihydrate).

Is gypsum cancerous?

Gypsum is a mineral calcium sulphate dihydrate with the chemical formula CaSO₄·2H₂O a non-hazardous, non-toxic, inherently safe material.

Is there formaldehyde in drywall?

Drywall joint compound can contain harmful ingredients, including formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, both known carcinogens, and crystalline silica, which is a carcinogen when inhaled.

What states were affected by Chinese drywall?

As of August 30, 2010 According to the Florida Department of Health and CPSC (US Consumer Product Safety Commission the States) States with the most reports of Chinese Drywall damaged homes include Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Virginia.

What color is Chinese drywall?

They should be a shiny copper color, not the dull gray they now display. The dull gray comes from hydrogen sulfide being emitted by the Chinese drywall. It attacks light switches, electrical outlets and electrical junction boxes. One photographed wire should have been a shiny copper color, but it too was gray.