In recent years, Chinese imports have been implicated in one safety scandal after another: lead-laced toys; toxic pet food; poisoned toothpaste and snacks; contaminated heparin and other medicines; tainted seafood and beef; defective tires and valve stems. Now add drywall to the long list of products from China causing problems.
Apparently a number of home builders in Florida were using imported drywall from China, which is causing bad odors, and corrosion in the homes.
Home owners have filed complaints and a class action lawsuit is underway citing builders for being slow to respond.
Home builders usually use domestically produced drywall made from gypsum. However in 2006, with supply shortages due to the housing boom, and rebuilding from hurricane Katrina builders started importing the product from China.
Building companies already suffering from cash and credit shortages due to the economic crisis are struggling to temporarily relocate homeowners while they test and replace drywall in homes.