According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there is more than just gypsum in the Chinese drywall that was used for building materials during the housing boom between 2004 and 2007. Traces of sulfur, high levels of strontium and two other organic compounds that are associated with acrylic paint were found in the samples of drywall.
Strontium is a naturally occurring element that is found in rocks, coal and oil. It is used in making ceramics, paint tint, fluorescent lights and pyrotechnics. The traces of sulfur that were found could account for the rotten-egg like smell that has been reported by homeowners across the country. Home owners in over a dozen states are complaining of the odor throughout the home, corrosion in the wiring and respiratory problems among family members, however, Florida appears to have had the most complaints. This could be due to the fact that the volatile sulfur compounds appear when the drywall is exposed to extreme heat and moisture.
Although the study conducted by the EPA sheds a little more light on the contents in Chinese Drywall, further studies are being done by a number of different federal agencies, to determine any health risks that may be involved.
"In the end, I think all this stuff is going to have to be ripped out", stated U.S. Senator Bill Nelson.
