Senators express outrage over Chinese drywall

[Coventina]

Source: Jacksonville Business Journal

Several U.S. senators expressed outrage over problems associated with Chinese drywall during a Senate subcommittee hearing Thursday.

“We’ve got a problem here and we’ve got to get to the bottom of it,” said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, who has been at the forefront of the investigation into problems said to be associated with the material.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., expressed outrage over a federal toxicologist’s comment that government investigators have felt sick after a few minutes of being inside a home with Chinese drywall.

“I fear that we may just be at the tip of the iceberg on what could be a natural and national disaster,” he said.

The Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance conducted Thursday’s hearing to determine what health and product safety issues might be associated with the high-sulfur imported drywall.

A growing product liability crisis over the drywall may include up to 35,000 homes in several states, with Florida being among the hardest hit. Several senators said federal money will be needed to deal with the problem.



Read more: http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2009/05/18/daily52.html

[Akoto]

1. I live in South Florida, where this has become a huge problem.

People are having to tear their homes apart and start all over because of this drywall. I recall a local news segment where a reporter visited one of these sites. The residents were sick (with respiratory problems, I believe). Their jewelry and the pipes under their sinks had literally turned black from whatever this crap puts off into the air.

[closeupready]

2. It sounds like it's some sort of oxidizing gas.

Though I wouldn't know precisely what the gas would be. Anyone?

[cdsilv]

5. sulfur dioxide? n/t

[Gidney N Cloyd]

3. Again, why are we buying drywall from China?

Some things like clothes, I get the economics, but drywall has to be so simple to make that the shipping expense would offset any labor savings.

[Grinchie]

7. Considering that Gypsum is a waste product from Coal Burning facilities,

Gypsum is the result of scrubbing the pollution out of burning Coal. It is a chemical process, that if done incorrectly, will create Sulfuric Trioxide while oxidizing Sulfur Dioxide. Sulfur Trioxide is unstable, and loves water, forming H2SO4 (H2O+SO3) = H2SO4 (Sulfuric Acid)

Thats a simple explanation of what nasty sulfides may be present in the Sheetrock, but it's a good bed that the Chinese Fuel Gas Desulfurization process may be a bit more primitive, or operating incorrectly due to lax quality control which favors production over quality.

All the Senators need to do is contact the Tennesee Valley Authority and they'll explain how difficult it is to do this process correctly on a massive scale.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

9. A lot of coal production in southern Illinois, too.

I wonder what we're doing with our gypsum if it's not going into drywall and such.
Thanks for the information

[qb]

4. Who needs regulations? This is just another Republican disaster. nt

[WriteDown]

8. I lay this right at the feet of Bill Clinton..

Most Favored Trading Nation? Seriously?!

[Jim Sagle]

6. Yeah, they're shocked and revolted.

:rofl:

[TheCowsCameHome]

10. I hope they build cells for Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld out of this stuff.t

[marasinghe]

11. ah, i see. no waterboard involved here. (n/t)

[KakistocracyHater]

12. ooooooooooooohhhhhhhh they express FEELINGS!

Perhaps this will give them pause over moving ALL acetaminophen factories to China & mmmmmmmaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyybbbbbeeeee abruptly cease allowing all 'vitamins' that are exported from China? Also that little bit about anti-freeze as a cheaper, for-profit decision by some ceo somewhere?