WASHINGTON – United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., made public a one-page fact sheet and help guide for consumers with concerns about imported Chinese drywall. The document, which is available on Sen. Landrieu’s website, answers frequently asked questions about the federal and state agencies involved and how they are working together to address the problem, according to a news release.

“My office continues to receive calls from consumers who are worried about the adverse effects of this imported Chinese drywall,” Sen. Landrieu said. “Many Louisianians are confused about which agencies to contact for help. This fact sheet provides contact information for a variety of state and federal entities that can assist consumers with their questions as we try to learn more about this tainted drywall and its health impacts.”

The fact sheet released by Sen. Landrieu is the first document to combine information and contact numbers from federal and state agencies. The fact sheet provides contact information for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the agency in charge of safety and efficacy testing, as well as the Louisiana Office of Public Health, the entity Louisianians should contact if they suspect Chinese drywall is affecting their health. Previously, consumers were forced to piece together details about federal and state offices that offer help with tainted drywall problems. Sen. Landrieu’s office will update this document and provide additional information as it becomes available from the relevant agencies.

The help guide responds to concerns about the potential problems with imported drywall used in Florida and Louisiana homes. Reports indicate that this sulfur-emitting drywall smells of rotten eggs, destroys residential wiring and appliances, and poses potential health risks.

The scope of the problem is huge. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the devastating levee breaks that followed damaged more than 1.2 million housing units, with more than 309,000 of those units sustaining major or severe damage. While Florida has received 60 percent of imported Chinese drywall since 2006, Louisiana is the second highest recipient. Louisiana has received 60.2 million pounds of imported Chinese drywall, and it may have been used in an estimated 7,000 Louisiana homes.

All told, it is believed that between 60,000 and 100,000 homes nationwide may contain potentially defective drywall. Besides Florida and Louisiana, problems also have been reported in the press in Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi and California.

Senators Landrieu, and Bill Nelson, D-Fla., last month filed legislation aimed at initiating a recall and imposing an immediate ban on defective building products from China. The centerpiece of their legislation is a resolution pressing the CPSC to recall Chinese-made drywall, based in part on findings by a Florida homebuilder and state officials who have confirmed the presence of sulfide gases in homes built with the drywall.

Sens. Nelson and Landrieu said they are pressing the CPSC for a recall in hopes of jump-starting a process for helping affected homeowners with the costs of repairs or replacement, which under their legislation would be the responsibility of the Chinese manufacturers. Such a process would also provide clarity to businesses in the construction and homebuilding sectors, key industries along the Gulf Coast.

The Nelson-Landrieu legislation also asks the CPSC to work with federal testing labs and the Environmental Protection Agency to determine the level of hazard posed by certain chemicals in the drywall. In addition, the legislation calls on the commission to issue an interim ban on imports until it can review federal drywall safety standards to ensure that consumers are protected.

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