Safety Precautions to Remove Chinese Drywall

Cause of Contamination

• In 2006, it was discovered that one of the mines used to obtain natural gypsum, according to a report in USA Today, also contained high levels of iron disulfide -- which accounts for the "rotten egg" smell reported in homes with the drywall. In addition, it is thought that the synthetic gypsum often mixed with natural gypsum could have contributed to the contamination as well. Synthetic gypsum is made from the waste of the flue-gas desulfurization at coal-fired power plants. This process could have caused a higher level of sulfur and strontium than is acceptable for people to be in contact with -- although a definitive level has not been set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Signs of Contamination

• Determine whether the drywall you have is the Chinese drywall that is causing health and electrical problems. Look for corrosion in your air conditioning evaporator coil, particularly blackening of the copper. Look, too, for blackening and corrosion on chrome-plated bathroom fixtures, silver or copper jewelry, uninsulated copper pipes or other copper wires and electrical connectors. If your electrical connectors or fixtures are normally a metallic or copper color and they are now black, this indicates a problem.

Move Out

• Move out of your home during the period of remediation. That process will be releasing toxic gases in the air and you should not be living in the space while the work is going on.

Remove, Cover or Replace Items

• Remove all electrical appliances, furniture, cabinetry, fixtures and anything else that can be taken off. Once the drywall is demolished, the toxic gases will damage these items. Cover or be prepared to replace items such as flooring and carpet, trim, molding and baseboards. If you leave items, like carpet, exposed to the gases after drywall removal, you will still be at risk for damaging health effects.

Removal

• After everything is covered, remove the drywall while wearing a respirator mask, gloves and a safety suit, if possible. Place the pieces of drywall immediately into large, heavy garbage bags and tie them as they become full. Have your home cleaned by a professional restoration company or use a HEPA vacuum and pressure washer to completely clean it out.