Oct 29, 2009 6:30 pm US/Eastern
Drywall May Be Making Homeowners Sick
TOWSON, Md. (WJZ) ―
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The federal government is trying to determine if drywall in homes across the country could be making the homeowners sick.
CBS
The federal government is trying to determine if drywall in homes across the country could be making the homeowners sick.
Suzanne Collins reports on tests released Thursday by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
During the building craze between 2003 and 2007, building materials were in short supply, and a lot of drywall was imported from China.
Now the federal government is trying to determine if those imports are linked to a host of medical complaints from homeowners.
"We first discovered the problem the day we made settlement. Pat came into the house and said there's an awful smell or odor in the house," said Richard Kampf, affected homeowner.
People say the drywall has a rotten egg smell. They've suffered from irritated and itchy eyes, respiratory problems, even bloody noses.
Metal in those homes, like pipes, appliances and other metallic surfaces, are corroding.
"Little things like your mirrors in the bathrooms are turning black, reflective material turning black from the edges in," said Kampf.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has just announced chemical tests showing higher concentrations of sulfur and strontium gas coming from Chinese drywall.
While most of the complaints come from Florida and Louisiana, where there was a lot of rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina, some Maryland homeowners have also complained or joined a class action suit.
A Towson product liability lawyer says the costs may not be simply medical.
"The problem with this is if you have toxic drywall, it can destroy the value of your house. That's serious, so it should be checked out very carefully," said Jane Santoni, Towson lawyer.
Future federal tests expected soon will try to determine if the medical complaints can be linked to the Chinese drywall.
There is also an investigation into whether the metal corrosion could affect fire or electrical safety systems.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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