BizNomic

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, homeowners must remove certain drywall made in China that can cause corrosion of electrical wiring. This material has been linked to corrosion of metal and wires in homes and elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide, which may cause eye irritation, coughing and sinus infections.

“All of the problem drywall and all of the electric wiring needs to be taken out,” commission Chairman Inez Tenenbaum told reporters today on a conference call to discuss the agency’s latest findings.

About 80 percent of more than 3,000 complaints filed by homeowners were in Florida and Louisiana, where imported drywall was used to rebuild homes after hurricanes in 2004 and 2005. Homeowners should replace the problem drywall, wiring, gas- service piping, sprinkler systems and smoke alarms, according to the report from the Bethesda, Maryland-based consumer agency and the Housing and Urban Development Department. The Consumer Product Safety Commission began receiving complaints in late 2008 about sulfur odors in Florida homes built in 2006 and 2007, according to a November report. Homeowners reported illnesses, air-conditioning failures and visible corrosion of metals such as electrical wires in the walls.

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