Some homeowners in Canada have complained about odors and other problems associated with Chinese drywall.
Published estimates have said as much as 929,000 square meters of Chinese drywall arrived in Canada through Vancouver between 2001 and 2007. In addition to lower British Columbia, some Chinese drywall may have been shipped to Canada’s Prairie Provinces and as far east as Toronto.
In May 2009, various Canadian media outlets reported that about a dozen homeowners in Metro Vancouver had experienced health problems possibly caused by the drywall. The complaints were reportedly coming from Surrey, Richmond, Burnaby and West Vancouver.
According to a report in the Canada’s Journal of Commerce, any drywall that entered the country would have been required to be certified by the Canada Standards Association. One builder told the publication that if Chinese drywall had entered Canada, it would have been “unsanctioned” or possibly “black market” activity.
In the U.S., consumers in 24 states have filed a total of 877 Chinese drywall complaints with the Consumer Products Safety Commission. Most complaints have come from Florida (658) and Louisiana (105). Other states with Chinese drywall reports include: Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Gases emitted from the drywall are being blamed for significant property damage, including damage to HVAC systems, smoke detectors, electrical wiring, metal plumbing components, and other household appliances. These gases also produce a sulfurous odor, similar to fireworks or rotten eggs, that permeates homes, and cause metals, including air conditioning coils and even jewelry, to corrode.
