Toxic Drywall May Be Sickening Homeowners

Chinese-imported materials used in more than 500,000 homes

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 11, 2009 4:43 PM CDT

(Newser) – Something’s rotten in the state of American homes: Chinese-imported drywall, which emits a sulfurous odor and could sicken homeowners, AP reports. More than 500 million pounds of the material was imported during America’s housing boom, when domestic supply was scarce and expensive, and it could line over 100,000 homes. “This is a traumatic problem of extraordinary proportions,” said one congressman.

The fiasco, which also affected homes rebuilt in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, has sparked lawsuits and investigations. “It’s like your hopes and dreams are just gone,” said one ailing resident. Families are struggling with the dilemma of vacating homes that won’t sell. "My wife and I are now faced with the choice between our children's health and our financial health,” another homeowner said.

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Jason and Melissa Harrell discovered defective Chinese drywall inside their Homestead, Fla. home. They sued the builder claiming the defective material emitted harmful toxins that caused illnesses, rusted... (PRNewsFoto/The Blumstein Law Firm)

Drywall stacker Reinaldo Muro, center, uses a remote controlled hydraulic boom to unload drywall boards for a new single family home at the KB Home's "Build to Order" concept at the Alpine in Corona,... (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Robert Lindsey, general manager of Signature Drywall Inc, inspects the finish of drywall his firm installed in a home under construciton in Folsom, Calif., Friday, April 25, 2008. The worst housing downturn... (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Mary Ann Schultheis displays the black dust that is covering the copper tubes in the air conditioner in the second story of her Parkland, Fla. home. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

In this April 8, 2009 photo, Mary Ann Schultheis stands in the guest room of her Parkland, Fla. home speaking about the problems that she is having with her house. Chinese drywall was used in the construction... (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

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It's like your hopes and dreams are just gone. I'm just going to cry. We don't know what we're going to do. - Mary Ann Schultheis, homeowner

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Toxic Drywall May Be Sickening Homeowners