(Washington, DC)  --  The Consumer Product Safety Commission has determined Chinese drywall is the cause of corrosion in thousands of homes built several years ago.

   Most of the homes were built in 2006 and 2007 during what the CPSC calls an "unprecedented increase in new construction."  The agency received nearly 2,100 reports from homeowners in 32 states and the District of Columbia indicating they'd experienced health issues, as well as corrosion of metal components in their homes.

   The complaints resulted in thousands of lawsuits against homebuilders and contractors.

   Releasing results of a study, the agency said, quote, "We now can show a strong association between homes with the problem drywall and the levels of hydrogen sulfide in those homes, and corrosion of metals in those homes."  The report adds, "In ways still to be determined, hydrogen sulfide gas is being created in homes built with Chinese drywall."  The long-term safety and health effects are still being investigated.

   The study involved 51 homes in five states.

   41 of those homes had been the subject of consumer complaints while ten had not.

   Investigators found significantly higher rates of corrosion in copper and silver test strips in complaint homes than in the control homes.

   The CPSC says now that the association has been identified, a task force can move forward to develop ways to identify homes with the problem and determine effective solutions.


   (Copyright 2009 by VERTEXNews/Newsroom Solutions)