From: Florida Department of Health

Hazard Assessment of Copper Corrosion and Air-Conditioner Evaporator Coil Failures Possibly Associated with Imported Drywall.

  • The Department of Health is currently identifying and assessing potential human health hazards related to the phenomenon of rapid and recurring corrosion of metals inside homes.
  • This phenomenon is suspected to be associated with the presence of Chinese drywall in homes built since 2003.


Below are several links you may find helpful.

Initial Material Analysis Report (5.4 MB Zipped PDF) – Unified Engineering
Case Definition (Does my home fit the investigation criteria – 03/04/2009)
File a Consumer Complaint
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Power Point Presentation (2/25/09 HTML Version). Download original power point file (10.3 MB Zipped Power Point file)

Request for Laboratory and Consultant findings:

Preliminary Concerns Identified to Date:

  1. Corrosion of copper wires that are part of a home’s electrical system. DOH has received reports of failures of smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, light switches and power outlets, or electronic devices or appliances. The report of a loss of function in life safety devices (smoke or carbon monoxide alarms) and electrical system failure are of particular concern (status of hazard is undetermined). DOH has requested assistance from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to assess this potential hazard.
  2. Possible corrosion of brass (a copper alloy) and other metal fittings for natural gas or liquefied petroleum (LP) supply lines for furnaces and other appliances. DOH is concerned that corrosion of these service lines and fittings could increase the risk of leakage of natural gas or LP products into the home (status of hazard is undetermined). DOH is currently seeking technical assistance to assist in the assessment of this potential hazard.
  3. Corrosion of copper, leading to the failure of air-conditioning evaporator coils or other refrigerant carrying copper tubes, resulting in the leakage of refrigerants into the home over time (status of this hazard is undetermined). DOH is seeking sampling and analysis data on the levels of refrigerant gasses inside homes from consultants evaluating buildings for this phenomenon.
  4. Exposure to corrosive gasses emitted from drywall (status of this hazard: Available data has not identified levels of corrosive gasses that exceed those recognized as posing a risk to health.) DOH is continuing to collect and assess available data on this topic.

DOH continues to seek data from all parties regarding occupant exposures to chemicals and secondary hazards resulting from corroded building materials.

–> If you are a home occupant, builder, consultant, contractor or other impacted party and want to submit your sampling and analysis data from consultant or laboratory reports to assist DOH in the assessment of this phenomenon, please submit the information to:

Florida Department of Health, HSEC
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A08
Tallahassee, FL 32399

Fax: (850) 414-9069

Note: Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

Email: (corrosioninvestigation@doh.state.fl.us)

Your submission will become part of the public record subject to release in accordance with the Florida public records laws, Florida Statutes, Chapter 119.  All personal identifying information contained in records relating to an individual’s personal health is confidential and exempt in accordance with section 119.0712 of the Florida Statutes.  If you submit reports, your personal identifying information related to health will be removed.

We appreciate your data and input, but DOH will not be able to provide a specific response for each data report submission.

Questions? Use email address mentioned above or call 850-245-4288 or 800-543-8279

Source: Imported Drywall