Problems

• Homeowners living in homes with problem drywall complain of itchy eyes, skin irritations, cough, headaches and problems breathing. They also complain of a rotten-egg smell and claim that metal components of air conditioners and electrical wiring have corroded and turned black. After testing the drywall, the Federal Interagency Task Force said there was a strong relationship between the drywall, high levels of hydrogen sulfide in homes, and the corrosion that was occurring in those homes. Tests identified the source of the problem as being from drywall imported from certain Chinese manufacturers.
  
  

Investigations

• Several federal agencies are involved with investigating problems associated with Chinese drywall. The CPSC has the primary responsibility of investigating damage to homes, while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) work to identify causes. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and various state law enforcement and health authorities are also addressing the problem.
  
  

Identification

• If you had drywall installed between 2001 and 2009, and you think it’s causing problems, you need to look for visual signs of metal corrosion. Look for copper electrical wiring that has turned black or for corroded evaporator coils on your air conditioning. If you find them, you may be able to file a report with the CPSC, but only if you can supply additional corroborating evidence.
  
  Drywall installed between 2005 and 2009 must show two corroborating conditions. Drywall installed earlier must show four. Conditions include the presence of 10 parts per million (ppm) elemental sulfur levels in samples of drywall core, proof of corrosion as measured by testing with copper test strips, markings on the drywall showing Chinese origin, or elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide or other sulfides when the drywall is tested.
  
  

Solutions

• In March, 2011, the CPSC updated its recommendations as to what should be done to fix toxic drywall problems. A study it conducted showed there was no evidence that corroded wiring is a safety problem, so it no longer recommends replacing electrical wiring in homes built with problem drywall. It does recommend that problem drywall be replaced, along with electrical distribution components such as switches and circuit breakers, gas service piping, sprinkler systems to put out fires, and fire safety alarm devices such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.