Defective Chinese Drywall Claims On The Rise



Posted: Wednesday, July 01, 2009

by Katie Kelley
LegalView

The controversy surrounding what investigators are calling defective Chinese drywall continues to unfold as more discoveries are made. Many homeowners are concerned that their residence may be contaminated with the allegedly toxic Chinese drywall, which has been implicated in respiratory problems as well as fatigue, headaches, and vision problems. News reports continue to add more information to this developing story, adding additional resources for residents and homeowners who may be affected.

The question remains as to what is the primary source of contamination for this toxic Chinese drywall. Allegedly manufactured in gypsum mines in China, the drywall is thought to be contaminated with fly ash, a waste product from coal when it is burned. Despite several different investigations, it is not presently clear what is causing the noxious gases to emanate from the walls. The contaminated drywall is suspected of leaking dangerous sulfur gases, identified by their corrosive properties. Most homeowners have investigated their air conditioning coils, normally constructed from copper, for corrosion. Other tell-tale signs include corrosion on copper wiring in electrical sockets and tarnishing of antique silver.

Chinese officials have seemingly validated recent claims of defective Chinese Drywall by sending a delegation from China's General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), an national administrative organization in charge of national quality standards, among other things.

While it is not currently known what the long term health effects of exposure to sulfur gases is, many homeowners living with contaminated Chinese drywall report a wide range of health concerns: eye irritation, sore throat, stuffy nose, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, nausea and headaches. To this end, Florida's Department of Health has commissioned tests of air samples from two homes in the state to provide definitive evidence of which gases are causing the health problems. The total cost is expected to be approximately $50,000.

While over 20 other states are represented in claims of defective Chinese drywall, Florida is the most heavily represented. The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has received approximately 600 complaints from people in 19 states and the District of Columbia, with over 75% of claims coming from Florida. Other states where reports filed with the CPSC have originated include Louisiana, Virginia, Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

If the allegations are true, there could be serious health risks for those living in houses contaminated with toxic Chinese drywall. Many homeowners who believe they are at risk have already contacted a Chinese drywall attorney and started development of a Chinese drywall class action lawsuit. Many lawsuits concerning Chinese drywall problems have been scheduled to be heard in several districts. A major home builder, the Lennar Corporation, has been named in some of these Chinese drywall lawsuits. as the defendant, prompting others to contact a Chinese drywall attorney in order to protect their investments.

--------

LegalView.info has recently launched a Chinese drywall information portal available at http://chinese-drywall.legalview.info. There you may find several legal resources concerning toxic Chinese drywall, as well as contacting a Chinese drywall lawyer.
This Article has been viewed 104 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
No comments yet.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.