The Department of Housing and Urban Development and Consumer Product Safety Commission are telling homeowners this week to rid their homes of problematic drywall. New guidelines target the removal of the hazardous Chinese drywall, which the Environmental Protection Agency found to contain high amounts of hydrogen sulfide, along with everything from gas pipes, alarm systems, electrical wiring and sprinklers.
The substance has been found to cause wall corrosion as well as health problems that include nose bleeds, infections and asthma attacks. In the cpsc.gov picture below, you can see corrosion or blackening of metal in or on electrical fixtures, appliances, plumbing and air conditioner coils — issues that may be related to problematic drywall.
Chinese drywall raised concerns late last year, when the CPSC released its investigation on Chinese drywall effects. The material was used to build between 60,000 to 100,000 U.S. homes.
For more information on drywall, visit the Drywall Information Center.
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