Consumer Concerned: "Could I Have Toxic Chinese Dry Wall?"

March 4, 2009, 11:30:00AM. By Jane Mundy

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Indio, CA: Robin moved into her brand new home 18 months ago and right away she noticed chemical vapors coming from the walls. "Sometimes I can see a white cloud through my house—it is actually hazy in here—and others also notice," says Robin. At the time, she hadn't heard of Chinese Drywall problems, but now she believes that her house was built with toxic drywall.

Robin says some days it is like a gas chamber in her house, weather dependent. "It is worse when there is a lot of humidity outside and especially bad when it rains," she says. "Today is a good day; it is dry outside so she is am able to talk on the phone. Other days, I have to move the phone outside to carry on a conversation."

She has noticed the interior walls that double as exterior walls seem to be the most toxic. "I know it has something to do with the exterior walls; at first I thought it was an insulation problem—and there could still be a problem with the insulation.

"I contacted some drywall specialists in Florida who were dealing with the toxic Chinese drywall and I told them I had a similar situation but I don't smell the sulfur. Mine smells like a dirty ashtray, hairspray and burning chemicals, all at different times, depending upon the humidity and temperature.

The Florida specialists said I have drywall from the United States Gypsum Company (I knew that too) and they are experiencing a different chemical vapor coming from their drywall, not sulfur. I haven't called the drywall company yet because I have been complaining to my builder since day one that some chemical was coming out of the walls.

I also told the specialists that my lungs burn; I have nosebleeds and my throat burns and even my brain burns. I can actually taste the chemicals in my mouth. I live by myself but my friends and neighbors concur with me—they can also taste the chemicals. The drywall experts said my health symptoms were similar to other consumer complaints with this drywall company. Apparently the dry wall problem is very pervasive—several companies nationwide are involved with toxic drywall.

And I have Parkinson's Disease. It was under control prior to all this but the constant smelling and ingesting of all these chemicals in my house has made me spastic and it is very difficult to breathe. The air is very thick—I have had to keep all my windows and doors open for the past 18 months. And to make things worse, I work from home!

I went to a doctor and had tests done. I had toxic levels of formaldehyde, phenol and carbolic acid in my body. I am now taking detox supplements as per my doctor's advice. She also told me to take out of my house whatever I could. I ripped up all my carpet and carpet padding. But I can't rip down the walls. (When I saw my doctor, I still didn't know about the drywall issue.)

My builder told me that I was the only one who had complained so I went online to research my builder; to see if anyone else was complaining of chemical vapors. I couldn't believe the amount of people who had filed complaints; I had no idea that toxic drywall was so prevalent, even though my complaint was a bit different.

So now I need to get the drywall tested. I haven't done anything yet—this just happened a month ago. And I am still assuming that it is the drywall.


I am hoping that the expert in Florida will come out here and test my drywall but right now it is just a waiting game. I wish I could sell my house…Meanwhile I am sleeping on a mattress in my brand new kitchen because my head can rest right next to the sliding glass doors..."

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