US: Chinese drywall corrosive

The US Consumer Product Safety Commissions released a formal report yesterday finding that Chinese drywall installed in US homes has a "strong association" with structural and health problems found in those homes, the New York Times reported. Investigators said that hydrogen sulfide gas and formaldehyde emitted by the drywall was a possible cause of respiratory problems reported by homeowners, and that corrosion in the drywall also caused electrical problems. More than 2,100 homeowners, mostly located in southern states that experienced housing construction booms following hurricanes, have complained of problems. An estimated 60,000 homes were built using Chinese drywall, but not all the drywall was tainted, the commissions said. No drywall has been imported from China this year.