U.S. Finds Strong Link Between Chinese Drywall and Corrosion

November 24, 2009

  • November 24, 2009 at 7:12 am
    Thom says:
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    I posed the same question to my scientist friends and of course it came down to the unknown sulfur content of the drywall. The gas itself dissipates quickly but the catalyst seems to be moisture and both florida and Louisiana have the market cornered on both. The stuff is not Krypton and will not produce and endless supply of gas and naturally once the gasses subside corrosion will as well.

    I would hazard a guess that over 90% of homes are plumbed with pvc or poly given the price of copper. My experience is that a home with a high content of hydrogen sulfide gas will suffer very little in the long run although the greatest casualty is copper plumbing when filled with “sulfur water” and after 20 years you start seeing leaks. Keep in mind this is in constant contact with a higher concentration and not gas. As I mentioned in my first blog that romex copper wiring is also a casualty of the gas but usually only to the point it tarnishes at the exposed end and if a switch fails a repair of stripping a quarter inch will solve the issue for another 20 years. The gas will not destroy or eat through any gauge of romex but just tarnish it.

    Again, the gas is nothing new in homes just a new vehicle of delivery.

  • November 24, 2009 at 8:31 am
    The Building Official says:
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    Thom: Sounds to me as if there is a half life to this stuff. I might have a tendency to agree with some of your observations with the exception that the sheets are run through heated dryers and in one of your statements abuot putting the pitcher of sulphur water in the fridge to air out what would be holding any sulphur in the product? It also sounds as if heat and humidity are playing a major part of the problem. Has anybody tested the sulpher content of the drywall? How does the hydrpgen sulphur and other possible gassing off of formaldahyde contribute to corrosion issues? I also agree with your observation on copper wiring and the corrosion rates associated. My concern would be for very sensitive electronics in the home.

  • November 24, 2009 at 10:27 am
    djones says:
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    Thank you Thom. Of course no one is going to believe you. Factual or not. Somewhere someone’s going to get rich from this. Can you say lawyers?

  • November 24, 2009 at 1:54 am
    Skeptic says:
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    Non-science. 41 homes does not constitute proof.

  • November 24, 2009 at 2:10 am
    An agent from Arizona says:
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    In an attempt to save money (greed) companies are using cheap labor without safety and building requirements. This is not the first product we are seeing from China that have devastating effects on the United States. Thre is a pattern. The tie between insurance and politics is our government is allowing quality of products from China to be sacrificed for our safety. Why? There are several insurance products that have a direct correlation with allowing these products in our country without the proper regulations. These products include (but are not limited to) property insurance (commercial and personal)perhaps health insurance and we hope not life insurance. As a country hopefully we will stop allowing inferior products from China into our country, because of low wages, and human rights issues (labor laws). I know in the short term when we purchase an item we save money. The question is do we really gain (save) when we consider the costs of lawsuits, higher insurance premiums (as a result of claims) , and most importantly the health of individuals who are negatively impacted by inferior products such as we are seeing from China.

  • November 24, 2009 at 2:49 am
    Thom says:
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    This seems a little out of control and let me share with you why. I grew up on a family farm that had been occupied by mine and past generations for nearly 150 years. This part of Missouri is plagued with sulfur water that emits hydrogen sulfide gas, the exact same stuff as in the drywall. The downside is your precious metals will tarnish, you smell rotten eggs when you bath and your city friends gag when they are exposed to the fumes. Otherwise, it is an inconvenience till your drinking water airs out in a pitcher in the fridge.

    People flocked to our area from all over the world in the late 1800s to expose themselves to this water for its healing properties. Now it is nothing more than an inconvenience to those whom have rejected the now available treated rural water for the free stuff out of the ground.

    Whats my point ? This is the exact same stuff that is in chinese drywall and it is no more than a temporary inconvenience. Why rip out $80,000 in drywall when it will soon hydrogen sulfide to such a negligable level and later entirely.

    Yes it sucks that it is there but the goverment has tested the stuff and finds the gasses being produced are not a hazard. Yep your eyes may water a bit at first, it may give you a minor sore throat but it wont harm you. Dont walk out of your homes and ruin your credit, your home will soon be free of hydrogen sulfide gas without any action on the homeowners behalf.

    OK, you guys are saying what does this guy know about science and health. This subject was brought up around a gathering of friends that consisted of a geologist whom cleans up corporate and goverment chemical messes, a college professor PHD in Bioengineering and two MD’s a Pulmonoligist and Cardioligist. Their oppinion is it is much to do about nothing and the chemicals adhering the paper are just as harmful as the gas.

    The lesson to be learned, dont buy chinese products, they are inferior, have a track record of being sub standard and are commonly made with complete disregard to the well being of the end consumer.

  • November 24, 2009 at 2:58 am
    OmniSure says:
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    The Chinese government is SELLING the exploitation of their people and environment.

    The American Government and Corporations are the PIMPS that are buying to undercut what our laboring class has faught and died for, to build sine the begining of the industrial revolution… a modest “middle class”.

    Is it worth it? YES, to the Chinese leaders/government AND to the American Corporate Executives (highest salary ratio between worker and exec in history) AND the American STOCK HOLDER (higher dividends from companies that can REDUCE labor costs and sell China Cheap).

    So, now in America. Don’t work, INVEST. Be a capitalist, not a laborer.

    And, at some point if you have to pay higher taxes as a capitalist, be comforted in knowing that you are STILL SAVING MONEY, becasue it is CHEAPER to pay taxes to keep the now “unemployed laborer” or “laborer making minimum wage” alive via wellfare than it is to pay the laborer a “historically deacent wage” with some degree of benefits and retirement. Yes, economists will show that it is cheaper to give a man GOVERNMENT CHEESE, GOVERNMENT HOUSING AND YES, GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE than it is to pay a deacent wage!

    Sincerely,

    A REAL Capitalist!

  • November 24, 2009 at 3:01 am
    Mark says:
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    They are having similar problems with American Drywall now too!

    CBS NEWS – Google it

  • November 24, 2009 at 3:41 am
    The Building Official says:
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    We need to get better at exposing ourselves to less risk. We may be laboring under the belief that products made outside the US are made with the same quality controls. Especially with something as observedly innocuous as drywall…gypsum, water, some admixtures for curing…therein lies the problem and the question…what was added to the “formula” to aid in the setting / drying process. Market demand was so high because of damages sustained by natural meteorological events that something in the manufacturing process had to “give”. In speaking with some of my counterparts who have observed the product during installation the comment came back that this drywall product was more brittle during handling and installation.

  • November 24, 2009 at 3:43 am
    anon the mouse says:
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    Look, the government is only doing what we have allowed them to do. You and Me and all the rest of US have chosen to NOT be diligent in who we send to office and have done a poor job of performance scoring those we did send to office. The ‘government’ has just done what they thought you wanted. Personally I attempt to do all of my purchasing from sources I can identify where it comes from. Want to straighten out the trade imbalance, don’t wait for ‘government’ action, do it yourself at the grocery, clothing, shoe, auto, and DIY stores. Then when you are feeling good about how you’re doing, do it at the polls.



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