FOLEY — While the Center for Disease Control and the Consumer Product Safety Commission are unsure whether toxic drywall imported from China has adverse health effects, local homeowners are relatively certain the drywall lies at the root of their financial and health woes. 

Some Baldwin County homeowners met with others who share their experiences Friday at a public meeting organized by John Campbell, co-owner of Chinese Drywall Recovery USA. Campbell held two meetings in the Foley Public Library’s meeting room. Both meetings drew a roomful of people who have dealt with, or are dealing with the adverse effects of toxic drywall, which has ruined their homes and in many cases their health. 

The toxic drywall imported from China came into play as early as 2001, but in most of the homes along the Gulf Coast, the use of the drywall did not pick up until after hurricanes Ivan and Katrina. The imported drywall, which was cheaper than other alternatives, was flying off the shelves in the post-hurricane rebuilding boom.

The drywall seemed to be an economic alternative, but later revelations have led many to believe the drywall is causing occupants of homes with the drywall in place to become ill, which may make the dwellings unlivable and unable to sell on the real estate market.

A definitive connection between the drywall imported from China and the health problems experienced by some has not been made, but the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Center for Disease Control have both acknowledged a possible connection and launched investigations which are still pending.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Chinese imported drywall is actually toxic and could lead to a plethora of health problems for inhabitants of tainted structures. The sulfur in the toxic drywall can create an odor and corrode metals within the structure, such as air conditioning coils.

According to the U.S. CPSC the most frequently reported health symptoms associated with contaminated drywall include irritated skin and eyes, difficulty breathing, coughing, headaches, bloody or runny noses, sinus infections and asthma attacks.

The U.S. CPSC is still investigating the problem and has not recalled the toxic drywall until scientific proof has been gathered to prove the imported drywall is causing the health and corrosion problems in homes.

“CSPC is leading the federal investigation and is working with other federal and state agencies to determine exactly what substances are in the drywall, what substances are emitting odors into the air and whether identified substances found in the air pose a safety or health hazard to families. This is a complicated investigation and the data must be evaluated before conclusions are made; nonetheless, the agencies and states involved share a sense of urgency in informing the public of their findings and developing safe and effective solutions,” a CSPC press release stated.

To date, the CPSC has received 3,770 reports from residents in 42 states from residents who believe their health has been negatively impacted by drywall produced in China. There have been 215 reports from Alabama, accounting for 6 percent of the total reports. The current investigation involves the testing of 50 homes across the Gulf Coast.

Those gathered in the library’s meeting room don’t have to wait for the government agencies to release their findings. One couple is convinced the drywall in their home is making their children sick. Their oldest has been suffering from asthma since they moved into the house and their youngest, who has always lived in the home, suffers from unexplained migraine headaches.

While their mother was describing their illnesses she told everyone she wished she could move her babies out to make sure they were safe, but financially she was not able to pay rent on a non-toxic apartment and keep paying her mortgage on the home which was making them all sick.

She also said everyday she worries about her children’s health now, but she also worries if their prolonged exposure to whatever is making them sick will pose even greater health threats in the future.

“I worry if they will get cancer because of this someday,” she said. She and her husband have gotten a quote for removing the drywall they believe is toxic from their home, but the estimated cost is over $200,000.

At the meeting, Campbell gathered contact information from everyone who came. Campbell plans to use the information to put pressure on lawmakers and others who can make changes to make the lives of those impacted by Chinese drywall better. Campbell’s main focus will be to convince lenders to work with homeowners with Chinese drywall so the homeowners can keep their homes. Campbell’s plan of attack centers on two of the largest mortgage owners in the country, who also happen to be practically owned by the government. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the largest lenders for mortgages. Campbell will present a plan to politicians, which will help the struggling homeowners and save the lenders money in the long run as well. According to Campbell, it is in the best interest of the lenders if the homeowners maintain ownership of their home so the homes can be fixed and property value will be maintained. Campbell’s suggestions include a forbearance of the mortgage until the all the toxic drywall has been removed from it, and a reduction in the principal of the mortgage.

Campbell also offered mortgage and financing advice to those gathered at the meetings. He advised everyone who believes they may have Chinese drywall to seek legal counsel if they feel the need to, but he also stressed talking to whoever owns their mortgage. One of the attendees, who was from Fairhope, told the group gathered he had done exactly that. He was pleasantly surprised when his lender agreed to work with him and put off paying on his mortgage until his home was livable.

For more information on Chinese drywall, see www.cpsc.gov/info/drywall/index.html or  www.chinesedrywall.com.