Are You Aware of the Major Health Problems that Could Be Caused by Drywall?
Millions of homes,
business, and even trailers across America are constructed with the
popular building material known as drywall. This relatively light
material, which is very cheap and easy to work with, is the perfect
solution for creating smooth ceilings, walls, and even floors in
certain situations. It comes in standard sizes, so construction
workers know what they are getting into when they purchase it. It
also allows them to work quickly, avoiding the hassles of traditional
plastering methods, which can take days longer to accomplish the same
construction task. But with all of these
benefits of drywall, why has it been all over the news, and why is it
being blamed for extreme health and safety issues? To understand the
problem, it is helpful to understand how the product is made to begin
with. Most brands of wallboard are created from gypsum powder, which
is then mixed with a variety of other ingredients, and sandwiched
between firm paper or wood. The additives are always designed to
improve the strength and the safety of the already reliable gypsum.
Some frequent additions include fire retardant chemicals, fibrous
materials that contribute to strength, and other chemicals that
counteract the effects of dampness. But an unscrupulous
drywall manufacturer in China recently exported some products to
America that had less of the safe chemicals, and far more hazardous
ones. In fact, a recent study performed by the Federal government
found that Chinese drywall victims
were being harmed by dangerous levels of hydrogen sulfide, a
broad-spectrum poison that can kill. How do you know if your
drywall is safe or not? The first sign that your room or building was
constructed with faulty materials is, in fact, the smell. Hydrogen
sulfide is very noticeable because it smells like sulfur, rotten
eggs, or swampland. This makes it very hard to miss throughout daily
life. If you notice that the smell becomes especially bad during
rainy or damp weather periods, you have a problem in your home. But bad drywall can also
be spotted in other ways. It turns silver fixtures black and it
corrodes electrical wiring and pipes. If you notice that your water
tastes odd, or that you have to replace electronic equipment more
often than normal, hydrogen sulfide may be to blame. Although the smell is
pungent and obvious, the health effects of constant exposure to the
toxic fumes can be difficult to identify. If you notice that you are
exhibiting any of the symptoms listed below, contact your health care
professional as soon as possible.
“Rotten egg”
smell Sore throat and cough Nausea Fluid in the lungs Fatigue Loss of appetite Dizziness Headaches
You should also obtain
some safety gear and examine your drywall
immediately. If for any reason you cannot do
this yourself, hire a professional to analyze the situation before
you or your family becomes even more ill. If you are capable of
checking for yourself, examine the place of origin, which should be
on the back of the sheet. It should say “Made In China” or “Knauf
Tianjin.”
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