The air of a business or residence may be polluted by the off-gases of Chinese drywall. Itchy skin, nosebleeds, and allergy symptoms are a few of the health complaints experienced by occupants exposed to contaminated drywall. The sulfides in Chinese drywall also have an adverse effect on HVAC systems and appliances even to the point of failure of new units.
More than 550 million pounds of contaminated drywall was imported to the US between 2004-2007. Extensive repairs in areas hit by natural disasters combined with the building boom lead to a shortage of building supplies during this time. Alternative sources for building supplies was needed. Chinese drywall was imported as one such solution. All across the south, even in the Charleston area, this contaminated drywall went up.
Two or three sheets of Chinese drywall are enough to cause problems in a structure. Health complaints, corrosion of wiring, and the failure of appliances experienced in the same time period may be the first obvious sign that Chinese drywall is present.
