The Wall Street Journal reports that government officials will be visiting China to investigate drywall manufacturing sites to better understand the problem occurring in homes across the United States. The report states
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission officials have received approval to visit several sites in China later this month to investigate problems with imported drywall that was manufactured there, the agency said today.
Agency officials also have started indoor air sampling in 50 homes and visited a synthetic drywall manufacturing plant in Florida as part of their investigation, the agency said in a status update report posted on its Web site. Chinese officials earlier accompanied U.S. officials in visits to some affected homes in Florida and Louisiana.
Imported Chinese drywall was used in an estimated 100,000 U.S. homes mainly from about 2004 through 2007, due to a domestic shortage. Residents have complained of various health symptoms they attribute to the gypsum board, including headaches, rashes and breathing problems, and corrosion of metal housing components, including electrical wiring. There have been no confirmed fires involving the drywall, the update said. An earlier CPSC report had stated two fire incidents were being probed.
These are very positive developments as homeowners are hoping for a push by the government to declare the products faulty sufficient for assistance and redevelopment of those properties built with the Chinese drywall. We can only hope the investigation goes positively and results develop after that.