Two U.S. Senators from Florida and Louisiana have sponsored legislation aimed at initiating a recall of Chinese drywall. The legislation filed by Florida Sen. Bill Nelson and Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, both Democrats, also calls for an immediate, temporary ban on some types of drywall from China.

As of last week, the Florida Health Department had received at least 155 complaints about Chinese drywall that produces a “rotten eggs” odor in homes. The fumes from the drywall have also been linked to corroding metals in many of the homes, and people living with the material have reported sinus and respiratory problems. Many Florida homeowners have had to leave their homes because the Chinese drywall has made them unlivable, and some builders in the state are scrambling to gut homes and replace the drywall.

Unfortunately, it is becoming apparent that problems involving defective Chinese drywall go far beyond Florida. Last week, a Virginia builder, The Dragas Companies, confirmed that some of the homes it built contain Chinese drywall. The company is in the process of inspecting nearly every one of its homes in two developments in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, and is also paying to fix homes with imported drywall and helping residents relocate for a few months while the work is being done. According to the consumer group America’s Watchdog, drywall from China was likely used in the Deep South, the Midwest, the Southwest and the Pacific Northwest, including Vancouver, British Columbia, and even Hawaii.

According to a statement from Sen. Nelson, between 60,000 to 100,000 homes nationwide may contain the tainted drywall. In Florida alone, an estimated 36,000 homes are believed to contain Chinese-made drywall. Both he and Sen. Landrieu say their legislation is aimed at jump-starting a process to help affected homeowners with the costs of repairs or replacing the defective drywall.

In addition to a recall and import ban, the legislation calls on the Consumer Products Safety Commission to work with the Environmental Protection Agency to determine the level of hazard posed by certain chemicals and unidentified organic compounds in the drywall.

As we reported earlier this month, the Florida Health Department released preliminary results from tests of three samples of Chinese drywall. Those tests found that the material contained higher levels of sulfuric and organic compounds than an American sample tested. The three Chinese samples all contained traces of strontium sulfide while the American sample did not. Strontium sulfide is a gray powder that emits a “rotten eggs” odor when exposed to moist air.

The three Chinese samples also contained hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, and carbon disulfide. All of these compounds are potentially toxic, and carbon disulfide in liquid form is extremely flammable. These were also found in the American sample, but could have been contaminated by the other samples, as all had been shipped together, the report said.

Finally, the report said the tests found that Chinese drywall gave off a sulfur odor when exposed to extreme heat and moisture. The report recommended further testing to determine whether the organic or sulfur compounds detected were to blame for the problems seen in Florida homes.

Investigators from the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) are on the ground in Florida trying to determine if defective Chinese drywall used in some newer homes in the state poses a health threat.

According to HeraldTribune.com, the Florida Health Department has received at least 155 complaints about Chinese drywall that produces a “rotten eggs” odor in homes. The fumes from the drywall have also been linked to corroding metals in many of the homes, and people living with the material have reported sinus and respiratory problems. Many Florida homeowners have had to leave their homes because the Chinese drywall has made them unlivable, and some builders in the state are scrambling to gut homes and replace the drywall.

Unfortunately, it is becoming apparent that problems involving defective Chinese drywall go far beyond Florida. As we reported earlier this week, a Virginia builder, The Dragas Companies, has confirmed that some of the homes it built contain Chinese drywall. The company is in the process of inspecting nearly every one of its homes in two developments in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, and is also paying to fix homes with imported drywall and helping residents relocate for a few months while the work is being done.

As we reported last week, a family from New Orleans has also filed a class action lawsuit against several drywall manufacturers. A similar lawsuit has been filed in Alabama, and in Florida, at least four are pending. According to the consumer group America’s Watchdog, drywall from China was likely used in the Deep South, the Midwest, the Southwest and the Pacific Northwest, including Vancouver, British Columbia, and even Hawaii.

Last month, Sen. Bill Nelson, D-FL, had asked both the CPSC and the Environmental Protection Agency to investigate the Chinese drywall problem in the state. According to HeraldTribune.com, the CPSC has had investigators in Florida for several weeks now. They recently began to conduct formal assessments of individual homes. The CPSC’s 5-member team consists of two engineers and a toxicologist, along with the commission’s director of defect investigations, HeraldTribune.com said.

If the CPSC investigation finds that the Chinese drywall poses a safety hazard, it has the power to stop sales of the material, and bar it from entering the country. According to HeraldTribune.com, the commission could also issue a recall, and subpoena drywall-related records from builders, suppliers and manufacturers.

Concerns over toxic Chinese drywall have prompted a Virginia developer to launch inspections of at least 60 homes in that state. According to Pilotonline.com, the homes in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, which were built by The Dragas Companies, are suspected to contain the foul-smelling Chinese drywall.

As we’ve been reporting for several months, complaints about tainted Chinese drywall first turned up in Florida. The health department in that state has received more than 150 reports about drywall that emits a putrid, “rotten eggs” odor. The fumes from the drywall have also been linked to corroding metals in many of the homes, and people living with the material have reported sinus and respiratory problems. Many Florida homeowners have had to leave their homes because the Chinese drywall has made them unlivable, and some builders in the state are scrambling to gut homes and replace the drywall.

According to Pilotonline, The Dragas Companies is inspecting nearly every home it built in The Hampshires at Greenbrier in Chesapeake and in Cromwell Park in Virginia Beach. Dragas is also paying to fix homes with imported drywall and helping residents relocate for a few months while the work is being done.

In a statement Monday, The Dragas Companies said it determined that the imported drywall installed at The Hampshires and Cromwell Park “appears to emit elevated levels of sulfur compounds that may corrode air conditioning coils, and may damage other mechanical and electrical systems over time.” The developer said the drywall was imported by a U.S. supplier in 2006 and installed by a local subcontractor without its knowledge.

Virginia is just the latest state to report problems with Chinese drywall. As we reported last week, a family from New Orleans has also filed a class action lawsuit against several drywall manufacturers. A similar lawsuit has been filed in Alabama, and in Florida, at least four are pending. According to the consumer group America’s Watchdog, drywall from China was likely used in the Deep South, the Midwest, the Southwest and the Pacific Northwest, including Vancouver, British Columbia, and even Hawaii.

Late last week, the Florida Health Department released preliminary results from tests of three samples of Chinese drywall. Those tests found that the material contained higher levels of sulfuric and organic compounds than an American sample tested. The three Chinese samples all contained traces of strontium sulfide while the American sample did not. Strontium sulfide is a gray powder that emits a “rotten eggs” odor when exposed to moist air.

The three Chinese samples also contained hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, and carbon disulfide. All of these compounds are potentially toxic, and carbon disulfide in liquid form is extremely flammable. These were also found in the American sample, but could have been contaminated by the other samples, as all had been shipped together, the report said.

Finally, the report said the tests found that Chinese drywall gave off a sulfur odor when exposed to extreme heat and moisture. The report recommended further testing to determine whether the organic or sulfur compounds detected were to blame for the problems seen in Florida homes.

Florida’s Chinese drywall problem has resulted in a criminal probe. According to BradentonHerald.com, the Florida Attorney General’s office has acknowledged that it is investigating whether two companies — Knauf Plasterboard Tianjian and L&W Supply Corp. — engaged in deceptive sales or marketing practices in relation to the drywall scandal.

Since January, the Florida Health Department has received more than 150 complaints about drywall that has polluted homes with a putrid, “rotten-egg” smell. Many homeowners have also complained that the fumes are causing air conditioning coils and other metals to corrode.

The drywall at the center of the complaints was made in China. Usually, drywall is manufactured in the United States, but a shortage between 2004 and 2006 prompted many builders to buy drywall from China. Most of the reported problems stem from drywall imported from China during Florida’s construction boom years of 2004-2005. Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd. of China, a subsidiary of German-based manufacturer Knauf Group, is the company at the focus of Florida’s drywall problems.

Late last week, the state health department released preliminary results from tests of three samples of Chinese drywall. Those tests found that the Chinese drywall contained higher levels of sulfuric and organic compounds than an American sample tested. The report recommended further testing to determine whether the organic or sulfur compounds detected where to blame for the problems seen in Florida homes.

The three Chinese samples — including one made by Knauf — all contained traces of strontium sulfide while the American sample did not, BradentonHerald.com said. Strontium sulfide is a gray powder that emits a hydrogen sulfide, or “rotten eggs,” odor when exposed to moist air, BradentonHerald.com said.

The three Chinese samples also contained hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, and carbon disulfide. All of these compounds are potentially toxic, and carbon disulfide in liquid form is extremely flammable. These were also found in the American sample, but could have been contaminated by the other samples as all had been shipped together, the report said.

Finally, the report said the tests found that Chinese drywall gave off a sulfur odor “when exposed to extreme heat and moisture. It is clear that exposure to moisture accelerates the release of volatiles from the drywall.”

BradentonHerald.com said that the Florida Attorney General’s office would not comment on its criminal probe of Knauf and L&W Supply, other than to confirm its existence. However, chief toxicologist with the health department confirmed that he has been consulting with its Bureau of Economic Crimes.

Other agencies investigating the drywall debacle include the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, BradentonHerald.com said. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is also testing the drywall to see if it can be safely disposed in landfills.

A spokesperson for Knauf told BradentonHerald.com that it is “cooperating fully” with the Florida Attorney General’s investigation.

Tests commissioned by the Florida Health Department have found “volatile” sulfur compounds in Chinese drywall blamed for causing foul odors and metal corrosion in scores of homes in the state. According to BradentonHerald.com, state health officials say further testing is needed to determine if those compounds are responsible for the reported problems.

Usually, drywall is manufactured in the United States, but a shortage during the housing boom years prompted many builders to buy drywall from China. The Florida Health Department has received more than 100 complaints about drywall that has polluted homes with a putrid, “rotten-egg” smell. Fumes from the drywall have also caused metals – like air conditioning coils – to corrode, and the material has also been suspected of causing respiratory and sinus problems among people living with it. Some residents have been forced to move from their homes, and some builders have begun gutting homes and replacing the drywall.

Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd. of China, a subsidiary of German-based manufacturer Knauf Group, is the company at the focus of Florida’s drywall problems. The company has been named in several class action lawsuits, including one filed by the Bonita Springs law firm of Parker Waichman Alonso LLP.

While Florida is ground zero for Chinese drywall complaints, the material has reportedly turned up in other states. According to the consumer group America’s Watchdog, drywall from China was likely used in the Deep South, the Midwest, the Southwest and the Pacific Northwest, including Vancouver, British Columbia, and even Hawaii.

As we reported last week, a family from New Orleans has also filed a class action lawsuit against several drywall manufacturers. The plaintiffs claim that their house, which was built in 2006, is emitting the rotten egg smell, causing respiratory problems and corroding electrical equipment.

According to BradentonHerald.com, The Florida Health Department hired Unified Engineering Inc. to test some Chinese drywall. The company ran tests on three samples and found it contained higher levels of sulfuric and organic compounds than an American sample tested, according to a preliminary report released Friday. The three Chinese samples — including one made by Knauf — all contained traces of strontium sulfide while the American sample did not, BradentonHerald.com said. Strontium sulfide is a gray powder that emits a hydrogen sulfide, or “rotten eggs,” odor when exposed to moist air, BradentonHerald.com said.

The three Chinese samples also contained hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, and carbon disulfide. According to BradentonHerald.com, hydrogen sulfide and carbonyl sulfide are called highly flammable by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The NOAA says hydrogen sulfide is highly toxic, while carbonyl sulfide can be fatal if ingested or absorbed through the skin. Carbon disulfide is described by NOAA as an extremely flammable liquid that can emit highly toxic fumes.

These were also found in the American sample, but could have been contaminated by the other samples as all had been shipped together, the report said.

Unified Engineering said that its tests found the Chinese drywall gave off a sulfur odor “when exposed to extreme heat and moisture. It is clear that exposure to moisture accelerates the release of volatiles from the drywall.”

The company recommended further testing to determine whether organic or sulfur compounds were to blame for the problems seen in Florida homes. According to BradentonHerald.com, the Unified Engineering report also said more testing would be needed to determine if the sulfuric compounds came from the gypsum used to make the Chinese drywall, or from other components used in the drywall, such as its paper backing.

A Louisiana couple has filed a class action lawsuit claiming that defective Chinese drywall is in their home. The Louisiana Chinese drywall lawsuit is just the latest indication that the toxic material was used in homes beyond Florida.

Usually, drywall is manufactured in the U.S., but a shortage during the housing boom prompted many builders to buy drywall from China. The Florida Health Department has received around 119 complaints about drywall that has polluted homes with a putrid, “rotten-egg” smell. Fumes from the drywall reportedly corrode air conditioning coils and other metals, and have also been blamed for respiratory and sinus problems. Some residents have been forced to move from their homes, and a few builders in Florida have begun gutting homes and replacing the drywall.

The drywall problems have already sparked several lawsuits in Florida. One of the first was filed in January by the Bonita Springs law firm of Parker Waichman Alonso LLP. The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, charges that Knauf Plasterboard and other defendants negligently manufactured and sold the defective drywall, which was “unreasonably dangerous” in normal use because it caused corrosion to air-conditioning and electrical components, and caused coughing and irritation of sinuses, eyes and throats.

According to the consumer group America’s Watchdog, drywall from China was likely used in the Deep South, the Midwest, the Southwest and the Pacific Northwest, including Vancouver, British Columbia, and even Hawaii. The group says the material was first introduced to the US in late 2000 or early 2001 and was primarily used in new US subdivisions, condominiums or home remodeling jobs. So far, America’s Watchdog’s environmental testing has found defective drywall in 41 states. In addition to Florida, those states also include Virginia, California, Arizona, Nevada, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Texas.

According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, the Louisiana Chinese drywall lawsuit was filed by a couple living in a New Orleans suburb. The class action suit, which was filed in the Eastern District of Louisiana, names certain drywall manufacturers as defendants. The complaint alleges that their house, which was built in 2006, is emitting the rotten egg smell, causing respiratory problems and corroding electrical equipment.

According to the Journal, the Louisiana Chinese drywall lawsuit has raised concerns that the defective material may have been used in homes that were rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina. The storm helped to create that shortage that caused so much Chinese drywall to be imported into the U.S.

USA Today is also reporting that a similar lawsuit has been filed in Alabama. A lawyer also told USA Today that there have been complaints about Chinese drywall in other states, as well.

A Florida couple is claiming that drywall from a U.S. manufacturer has caused problems in their home that are similar to those blamed on Chinese drywall. According to the Charlotte Business Journal, National Gypsum has agreed to the test the home located in Alva, in southwestern Florida.

Since January, the Florida Health Department has received close to 100 complaints about drywall that has polluted homes with a putrid, “rotten-egg” smell. Many homeowners have also complained that the fumes are causing air conditioning coils and other metals to corrode. The health department has said that most of the homes being investigated were built after 2004, but one home that is the subject of complaints was built in 2001.

Until now, the drywall at the center of the complaints was made in China. Usually, drywall is manufactured in the U.S., but a shortage between 2004 and 2006 prompted many builders to buy drywall from China. Most of the reported problems stem from drywall imported from China during Florida’s construction boom years of 2004-2005. Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd. of China, a subsidiary of German-based manufacturer Knauf Group, is the company at the focus of Florida’s drywall problems.

As we reported earlier this month, a consumer group investigating the drywall problems has maintained that the material has turned up in dozens of other states. The group, America’s Watchdog, also claimed that many U.S. drywall manufacturers could also be affected because Knauf Plasterboard sold the material to U.S. companies through a “private label” program. Under such an agreement, Knauf supplied drywall would be re-labeled and distributed under the U.S. manufacturer’s name.

According to the Business Journal, an Alva Florida couple who says their home was built with National Gypsum drywall have had problems with deteriorating air conditioning coils, and melting insulation. National Gypsum has agreed to send a team to the home to try to determine what the problem is.

National Gypsum also maintains that it is not certain that the home was built with its drywall, the Business Journal said. For one thing, A Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor who examined drywall from the home found it was half cellulose. According to the Business Journal, while National Gypsum uses pulp paper in its drywall, which includes cellulose fibers, cellulose makes up far less than half of the material.

Florida’s drywall problems have already spurred several lawsuits in the state. One of the first was filed in January by the Bonita Springs law firm of Parker Waichman Alonso LLP. The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, charges that Knauf Plasterboard and other defendants negligently manufactured and sold the defective drywall, which was “unreasonably dangerous” in normal use because it caused corrosion to air-conditioning and electrical components, and caused coughing and irritation of sinuses, eyes and throats. It goes on to state that, “when combined with moisture in the air, these sulfur compounds create sulfuric acid.”

According to The Charlotte Business Journal, National Gypsum has not been named in a lawsuit.

Owners of newer homes across the country have been warned to be on the lookout for problems that could be related to defective Chinese drywall. The drywall may be emitting sulfur compounds that produce a noxious smell, corrode metals and cause residents to suffer respiratory and sinus ailments. The drywall problems have already turned up in scores of homes in Florida, but a consumer advocacy group is warning that tainted Chinese drywall could have been used in thousands of homes across the country.

Usually, drywall is manufactured in the United States, but a shortage during the housing boom prompted many builders to buy drywall from China. The Florida Health Department has received close to 100 complaints about drywall that has polluted homes with a putrid, “rotten-egg” smell. Some residents have been forced to move from their homes, and some builders have begun gutting homes and replacing the drywall.

Last month, Lennar Homes, one of the builders who has acknowledged using the Chinese drywall in Florida, said air quality tests it commissioned found that the material was emitting three sulfide gases that were likely causing the smell and corrosion problems – carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide and dimethyl sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide, a particularly dangerous compound with a characteristic rotten-eggs smell, was not found in Lennar’s air tests, but it was found in previous testing that the company conducted on the Chinese drywall itself. At the time, Lennar said the compounds coming from the drywall could have caused the metal corrosion seen in many of the homes.

According to the consumer group America’s Watchdog, drywall from China was likely used in the Deep South, the Midwest, the Southwest and the Pacific Northwest, including Vancouver, British Columbia, and even Hawaii. According to America’s Watchdog, the material was first introduced to the US in late 2000 or early 2001 and was primarily used in new US subdivisions, condominiums or home remodeling jobs.

The group is urging people who live in these areas be aware of the signs that defective Chinese drywall was used in their home. These include:

Residents suffering severe upper respiratory issues, headaches, nose bleeds, or other severe medical indications, especially if these symptoms disappear when residents go on vacation, or leave the home for a few days.
The home may have a slight or strong, sulfur, rotten egg or even acid type smell.
Air conditioning coils, stove top oven elements, and or refrigerator’s may be failing at an usually high rate.
Silver jewelry or silver wedding plates or flat ware may be tarnishing within months or even weeks.

If a resident is experiencing any of these problems, they may want to pull off five or six electrical face plates (Do Not Touch The Wires) from walls in their homes. According to America’s Watchdog, if the copper ground wire or the electrical wires have turned black, or are charred, it is a good indication the home was built or remodeled with defective Chinese drywall.

Health officials in Florida first began fielding complaints about problems linked to defective Chinese drywall this summer, but did not alert the public. According to a report on News-Press.com, the department instead coordinated with a builder and its consultant to determine how and when the Chinese drywall issue would be made public.

As we’ve been reporting for the past several months, owners of newer homes in South Florida have been complaining of drywall that smells like rotten eggs. In many cases, residents have had to leave their home because the smell was so bad. In addition to the putrid smell, many South Florida homeowners have reported problems with air conditioning and other systems that are likely related to the defective Chinese drywall. Some spent hundreds – even thousands of dollars – to have air conditioning, pipes and wiring repaired. People living in the homes have also reported respiratory and sinus symptoms. Sulfur gasses emitted from the drywall have been cited as a cause of all of the problems.

According to News-Press, the Lee County Health Department received its first drywall complaint in late August. Emails between Jim Love, county environmental health director, and Dr. Judith Hartner, the head of the Lee County Health Department, show the two discussed the issue. Yet, when News-Press asked Hartner about Chinese drywall in December, she claimed not to have heard of any problems.

By August, Lennar Homes and its consultant, Environ International, were investigating drywall complaints and testing homes. Emails indicate that the state health department and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allowed Lennar homes a great deal of leeway in determining when the drywall issues would be made public.

One email sent from an EPA official to the department in November advised that “‘Sweeps Week’ is coming this month. It might allow the TV news to be more sensational, but I think we will want to put the word out through the media this month – so that we (and the responsible home builder) can control the message, instead of it being ‘exposed’ (People poisoned! DOH does nothing!) by some TV station and breaking nationally.”

A second November email from the same official suggested that public notification should be coordinated with Lennar. “Gentlemen, I’d like to suggest that we offer to coordinate publicity with the Lab and this builder (Lennar and Environ) ” the email said. “I am getting calls from homeowners about other builders, and predict that this story will break soon.”

While the EPA was pressing the Florida Health Department to coordinate with Lennar, the Health Department was in a dispute with Environ over the way it characterized its testing. At an October 2 meeting with the Florida Health Department, Environ’s representatives said its testing had determined the drywall didn’t pose a health issue, News-Press said. In November, Environ issued its own memo of the October meeting, which appeared to indicated that state and county health officials had agreed with Environ’s assessment that there was no health threat.

But emails from the Florida Health Department indicate this was far from the case. In November, the department asked Environ for its data, so it could reach its own conclusions. Environ refused, and basically told the health department that it did not want its opinion on the investigation, News-Press said.

Environ did eventually relent, and sent some – but not all – of its data to the health department in late December. But now, having seen the data, the health department’s toxicologists claims to have more “confidence” in Environ’s findings, News-Press said.

It wasn’t until January – months after it was notified of the first drywall complaints – that the Florida Health Department began an active investigation. In the meantime, the public had finally learned that there was a problem. But the news didn’t not come from the Florida Health Department or any other public official. Instead, the Chinese drywall story was broken by News-Press on December 19.

A consumer advocacy group is claiming that potentially defective Chinese drywall has been found in 41 states. According to a report on News-Press.com, the group, America’s Watchdog, has said that 250 million feet of the drywall came into the United States from China. The drywall enterd into ports located along the West Coast – including Long Beach and Oakland, California, and Seattle, Washington. It also entered from ports in New York, New Jersey and Florida, the group said.

Since January, the Florida Health Department has received close to 100 complaints about drywall that has polluted homes with a putrid, “rotten-egg” smell. Many homeowners have also complained that the fumes are causing air conditioning coils and other metals to corrode. The health department has said that most of the homes being investigated were built after 2004, but one home that is the subject of complaints was built in 2001.

The problems have sparked at least four class action lawsuits in the state. One of the first was filed in January by the Bonita Springs law firm of Parker Waichman Alonso LLP. The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, charges that Knauf Plasterboard and other defendants negligently manufactured and sold the defective drywall, which was “unreasonably dangerous” in normal use because it caused corrosion to air-conditioning and electrical components, and caused coughing and irritation of sinuses, eyes and throats. It goes on to state that, “when combined with moisture in the air, these sulfur compounds create sulfuric acid.

According to America’s Watchdog, its environmental testing has found defective drywall in 41 states. In addition to Florida, those states also include Virginia, California, Arizona, Nevada, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Texas.

According to News-Press, the head of the group said that because most of drywall came in through the West Coast, California and Arizona could ultimately have bigger problems than what is currently being seen in Florida.

Many U.S. drywall manufacturers could also be affected because Knauf Plasterboard – the Chinese company that manufactured the drywall – sold the material to U.S. companies through a “private label” program, America’s Watchdog said. Under such an agreement, Knauf supplied drywall would be re-labeled and distributed under the U.S. manufacturer’s name.

A representative for an industry group told News-Press that the organization had no knowledge of such arrangements. But at least one Florida homeowner has reported drywall problems in a home built with drywall bearing the label of a U.S. maker.

Yet another class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of Florida homeowners plagued by defective Chinese drywall. The lawsuit, which alleges that as many as 30,000 Florida homes may have been built with tainted Chinese drywall, is at least the fourth such claim filed in the state.

Since January, the Florida Health Department has received close to 100 complaints about drywall that has polluted homes with a putrid, “rotten-egg” smell. Many homeowners have also complained that the fumes are causing air conditioning coils and other metals to corrode. The health department has said that most of the homes being investigated were built after 2004, but one home that is the subject of complaints was built in 2001.

The drywall at the center of the complaints was made in China. Usually, drywall is manufactured in the United States, but a shortage between 2004 and 2006 prompted many builders to buy drywall from China. Most of the reported problems stem from drywall imported from China during Florida’s construction boom years of 2004-2005. Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd. of China, a subsidiary of German-based manufacturer Knauf Group, is the company at the focus of Florida’s drywall problems.

The latest Chinese drywall suit was filed Monday in Florida’s Southern District of federal court. According to the Associated Press, the suit names homebuilders and supply companies, an importer and several divisions of the Knauf Group as defendants.

The lead plaintiff in the suit is a Homestead real estate agent who purchased a $487,000 home in 2006, the Associated Press said. Because of the drywall, the plaintiff and his family are unable to live in the residence. Fumes from the drywall have caused by the air conditioner and televisions in the home to fail numerous times. According to the Associated Press report, since living in the home, the plaintiff has been diagnosed with sleep apnea, his son has nosebleeds and others in his family have worsening allergies.

This is the fourth Chinese drywall lawsuit filed in Florida in recent months. One of the first was filed in January by the Bonita Springs law firm of Parker Waichman Alonso LLP. The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, charges that Knauf Plasterboard and other defendants negligently manufactured and sold the defective drywall, which was “unreasonably dangerous” in normal use because it caused corrosion to air-conditioning and electrical components, and caused coughing and irritation of sinuses, eyes and throats. It goes on to state that, “when combined with moisture in the air, these sulfur compounds create sulfuric acid.”

Jordan Chaikin, an attorney with Parker Waichman, has said that the firm has received more information on the drywall problems, and will likely be amending its complaint to include other defendants. So far, builders known to have used the drywall include Lennar, Taylor Morrison, WCI, Meritage Homes, Ryland Homes, Transeastern and Standard Pacific, Chaikin said.

Yet another lawmaker is calling for a federal probe of Florida’s Chinese drywall problems. According to a statement released by his office, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, wants both the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the drywall issues.

As we reported last month, Sen. Bill Nelson, D-FL, had asked both the Consumer Products Safety (CPSC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to investigate Chinese drywall that emits foul-smelling sulfur fumes. The drywall has not only left many homes with a putrid smell, but has also caused the corrosion of air conditioning coils and other metals. The situation is so bad that some Florida residents have had to move out of their homes. Others have spent hundreds – even thousands of dollars – to have air conditioning, pipes and wiring repaired.

Shortly after Sen. Nelson made his request, the CPSC opened a drywall probe. In a letter, Rep. Buchanan asked the USTR and the FTC to join the CPSC’s investigation. “It is possible that the FTC and USTR can play a helpful and constructive role in the resolving this growing problem,” Rep. Buchanan said.

“Florida’s 13th Congressional District, which I represent, has some of the highest concentrations of imported Chinese drywall found so far,” wrote Rep. Buchanan. “Some homeowners have complained about the foul odors generated by this imported drywall, expressed concern that it might be a threat to the health of young children in these homes, and noted that the drywall may have damaged other aspects of their homes, such as the framing or electrical wiring.”

According to the statement from Buchanan’s office, the Congressman sent the agencies a series of news articles in the Bradenton Herald and Sarasota Herald-Tribune outlining the Chinese drywall’s impact on homeowners in Florida. He urged the agencies to review the articles and implement any necessary responses.

The Florida Health Department has received nearly 100 complaints about homes with defective Chinese drywall. A dozen homes have been tested so far, and results are expected sometime this month. At a forum last week, the department’s chief toxicologist said that most of the homes investigated so far were built since 2004, though one was built in 2001. The complaints come from 14 counties, including Manatee, Sarasota, Lee, St. Lucie, Pinellas, Collier, Dade, Citrus, Lake, Hillsborough, Highlands, Palm Beach and Broward.

Usually, drywall is manufactured in the United States, but a shortage between 2004 and 2006 prompted many builders to buy drywall from China. Most of the reported problems stem from drywall imported from China during Florida’s construction boom years of 2004-2005. Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd. of China, a subsidiary of German-based manufacturer Knauf Group, is the company at the focus of Florida’s drywall problems.

Last month, Lennar Homes, one of the builders who has acknowledged using the Chinese drywall in Florida, said air quality tests it commissioned found that the material was emitting three sulfide gases that were likely causing the smell and corrosion problems – carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide and dimethyl sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide, a particularly dangerous compound with a characteristic rotten-eggs smell, was not found in Lennar’s air tests, but it was found in previous testing that the company conducted on the Chinese drywall itself. At the time, Lennar said the compounds coming from the drywall could have caused the metal corrosion seen in many of the homes.

Florida builder WCI Communities has apparently set aside funds to address problems with defective Chinese drywall in some of its homes. According to Naplesnews.com, in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company said it had placed $11 million in reserve for homes with one or more air conditioning coil replacements. It is believed that sulfur gases emitted from the drywall are causing metals in some homes – including air conditioning coils – to corrode.

As we’ve been reporting for the past several months, owners of newer homes in South Florida have been complaining of drywall that smells like rotten eggs. In many cases, residents have had to leave their home because the smell was so bad. In addition to the putrid smell, many South Florida homeowners have reported problems with air conditioning and other systems that are likely related to the defective Chinese drywall. Some spent hundreds – even thousands of dollars – to have air conditioning, pipes and wiring repaired.

So far, the Florida Health Department has received at least 100 complaints of drywall problems from Florida homeowners. As we reported last month, a consumer advocacy group also said it had received complaints of similar drywall problems in other states. Recently, the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) had started a probe of Chinese drywall.

WCI Communities is among the Florida builders that have acknowledged receiving drywall complaints. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on August 4. Unfortunately, WCI made the announcement three days after the Feb. 2 deadline for creditors to file claims had passed.

According to Naplesnews.com, WCI is claiming that drywall complaints arose before its bankruptcy, making them pre-petition claims. Such claims are usually settled for just pennies on the dollar. However, Naplesnews.com is reporting that WCI has asked for the court’s permission to settle the claims outside the bankruptcy proceeding. This could result in larger settlements.

In its SEC filing of January 28, WCI said it had set aside the $11 million reserve fund. The filing also said WCI was “currently addressing a handful of active claims that it believes are covered by the company’s homeowner warranty.”

“Based on information currently available to the company, we do not believe these claims will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or resulting operations,” the SEC document said.

A WCI spokesperson would not tell Naplesnews.com how many drywall claims the company is handling.