From The Great Wall To The Dry Wall

Amid the U.S. housing boom, the demand for cheap building materials catalyzed the import of tainted Chinese drywall, ruining an estimated 100,000 homes and displacing dozens of Floridians.

Construction companies as well as manufacturers are being sued by defective products attorneys in an effort to extract fair compensation for personal injury and property damages. The main culprit, Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin, a Chinese manufacturer, assured the public that the drywall was made from naturally mined gypsum, and does not contain fly ash, a waste material from coal-based power plants.

Homes containing Chinese drywall often omit unpleasant odors and corrode electrical wiring. Humidity and heat cause toxic compounds in the drywall to contaminate the indoor air leading to serious health problems. Strontium sulfide, thought to be contained in Chinese drywall, is particularly dangerous for developing children. Chronic exposure to these toxic gases can cause cardiovascular problems, breathing complications, and affect the central nervous system.

This is not the first time a defective product has been blacklisted. A myriad of cases has appeared over the past several years, and all of the products carry a “Made in China” label. A once thriving, most technologically advanced civilization has been debased by poor quality and disregard for moral standards. From food additives, to lead contaminated toys, the Great Wall of China is being disassembled brick by brick.