A bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate that, if passed, could result in a recall of  defective 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 drywall from China.

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.

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.

Chinese drywall has been causing problems across the country.   The fumes from the drywall, which produce a “rotten eggs” smell,  have been linked to corroding metals in many of the homes, and people living with the material have reported sinus and respiratory problems.

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.  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.

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.

Lawsuits against the manufacturers and distributors of the Chinese drywall have been filed in Florida, Alabama and Louisiana.  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.