Chinese Drywall
Read the CPSC Statement on Chinese Drywall >>
What Is The Problem with Chinese Drywall?
Between 2004 and 2006, the United States experienced a dry wall shortage due in part to the housing boom and hurricane reconstruction efforts. In order to meet demands, many companies imported drywall from China. Although Chinese drywall imports have been around since the early 1990s, the height of the imports took place between that two year period.
Soon after, homeowners began to notice a sulphur or ammonia smell in their homes, and began to report health issues ranging from headaches and eye irritation to nosebleeds and respiratory problems. The problems only seemed to exist when they were in their homes. Further, homeowners began to notice that jewelry, door knobs, appliances, air conditioning coils, copper wiring and other metals began to tarnish and corrode. Items that were meant to last decades were failing after only a year or two. The culprit was determined to be excessive levels of sulfide fumes and ammonia gas emitted from Chinese drywall. Officials are also investigating the presence of iron disulfide (FeS2 pyrite), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbonyl sulfide, sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon disulfide (CS2) in the drywall.
Many families have been forced from the homes due to the health problems arising from exposure to the Chinese drywall. In serious cases, exposure to dangerous toxins like sulfide and ammonia gases can lead to extreme irritation, unconsciousness, respiratory paralysis and even death. Children, the elderly and those with pre-existing respiratory problems or chemical sensitivities are most at risk. Additionally, homeowners are concerned as to how the Chinese drywall has affected the equity of their homes, especially in areas hard hit by the housing bust. Many victims have already spent thousands of dollars trying to fix the damage caused by the Chinese drywall fumes.
What Areas of Affected by the Chinese Drywall?
550 million pounds of the toxic drywall was imported into the United States between 2004 and 2006. Florida is the epicenter of the Chinese drywall problem, with more than 60% of the drywall being imported through the Florida ports of Miami, Jacksonville, Tampa, Canaveral, Pensacola, Everglades and Manatee. Once in the country, the toxic drywall was distributed throughout the southeast and the rest country.
States Hardest Hit the Chinese Drywall:
| States Affected: | Pounds Imported: |
Boards Used: |
Home Affected: |
| Florida | 326,641,973 |
3,630,000 |
36,000 |
| Louisiana | 60,153,501 |
668,000 |
7,000 |
| California | 51,934,137 |
577,000 |
6,000 |
| Mississippi | 27,261,276 |
303,000 |
3,000 |
| Texas | 19,908,997 |
221,000 |
2,000 |
| South Carolina | 18,797,475 |
209,000 |
2,000 |
| North Carolina | 18,050,760 |
201,000 |
2,000 |
| New York | 15,864,470 |
176,000 |
1,800 |
| Georgia 6 | 6,050,370 |
67,000 |
670 |
| Washington | 2,437,491 |
27,000 |
270 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,173,144 |
24,000 |
240 |
| New Jersey | 1,520,760 |
17,000 |
170 |
*Source: Herald-Tribune
How Can I Tell If I Have Chinese Drywall in My Home?
- Have you had drywall installed in your home between 2004-2006 (or just before or after these dates)?
- Do you notice a strange smell in your home? Some homeowners describe it to be similar to a spent firework or a rotten egg.
- Are the words “CHINA”, “KNAUF” and/or “C36” printed in black or red letters on the back of the drywall boards?
- Do you notice a blackening or tarnish on electrical receptacles, wiring, air conditioning coils or other metals in your home?
If you answered yes to one or more of the questions above, you may have dangerous Chinese drywall in your home. If you or a loved one has had toxic Chinese drywall installed in your home, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit.
Legal Assistance for Victims of Chinese Drywall
The manufacturers, distributors, builders and suppliers of Chinese drywall must be held responsible for the risking the health and safety of innocent Americans. Our firm is actively investigating possible recourse for the victims of this toxic product. So far, 80 complaints have been filed against manufacturers, and that number is sure to rise.
If you or a loved one has been affected by dangerous, Chinese drywall, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries . You only have a limited time to file a claim, however, so you must act quickly. Call the experienced attorneys at Neblett, Beard & Arsenault at 1-800-256-1050 today or submit an online request for a free, no obligation case review. It won’t cost you anything to see if we can help with your Chinese drywall problems.
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