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Firm Develops Chinese Drywall Inspection Protocol

  • Jun 05, 2009

The forensic experts at U.S. Building and Consultants, Inc., are in the final stages of developing a protocol for inspection and remediation to the toxic Chinese drywall problem facing the nation. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found high levels of toxic chemicals in Chinese drywall, which was possibly installed in more than 100,000 homes between 2001 and 2006.

"We are not surprised that they found samples containing higher levels of strontium and sulfur because strontium sulfide is capable of emitting corrosive gases in moist air which, in our opinion, poses a health concern to homeowners and their families," said Spiderman Mulholland, leading investigator. "It confirms what we have been discovering in Florida homes over the last several months. The physical evidence is overwhelming and needs to be carefully evaluated from a forensic standpoint."

The analysis done by USBCI has identified 11 of 12 compounds that could be considered health concerns, depending on toxicity levels and multiple compound interactions. This does not factor in additional particulates under analysis.

While the Florida Department of Health has not yet concluded that there is a link between health problems and the imported drywall, Mulholland's team has been working with several families that are experiencing medical issues.

"We hope that state officials will quickly come to the same conclusions that we have, that this is indeed a health issue," Mulholland said.

USBCI has an accredited testing facility that can determine toxic-drywall problems.

Comments

Mon, Jan 11, 2010 Cynthia cynadiaz@me.com

Update: The first Chinese drywall lawsuit begins this month; here is some good information: http://www.chinese-drywall-answers.com/. People living with Chinese drywall have suffered eye, respiratory, and sinus problems that may be linked to the gases emitted from defective Chinese drywall that also produce a sulfurous odor and causes metals—air conditioning coils, silverware, jewelry—to corrode. Some 500 million pounds of Chinese drywall was imported into this country since the late 1990s, impacting about 100,000 homes.

Tue, Sep 1, 2009 Georgia

The builder is working with us to resolve the remediation issue. I see this article is from June. Are there protocols now available for remediation that we can use as a guideline? Thanks.

Sun, Aug 2, 2009 Cynthia New York

The defective Chinese drywall debacle has been making news for months now, with homeowners plagued by sulfur fumes that smell like “rotten eggs” and cause air conditioning coils to corrode. Residents complain of sinus and respiratory ailments, eye and skin irritation, persistent runny or bloody noses, headaches, and asthma. Some situations were so severe that residents had to vacate their homes. In some cases, victims have been harassed by builders into signing unfair, one-side remediation agreements. It seems that the gypsum in drywall, which typically comes from mines, has recently come from a chemical process involving lime or limestone and gas from coal-fired power plants. Contaminants and sulfur found in power plant smokestacks are supposed to be removed in the process. Failure of proper removal is the cause of foul odors, respiratory complaints, and corrosion, according to some Chinese experts in building supplies. Others say phosphogypsum (calcium sulfate), a radioactive phosphorus substance, is to blame. Banned for use in U.S. construction in 1989, the EPA says prolonged exposure to this radium-contained element can lead to a higher risk of lung cancer. The issues surrounding defective Chinese drywall are confusing and worrisome. Here is a good blog that has been providing emerging and valuable information on the problems: www.chinese-drywall-answers.com

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