Elevated corrosion rates and hydrogen sulfide in homes with ‘Chinese Drywall’

Allen, Joseph G.; MacIntosh, David L.; Saltzman, Lori E.; Baker, Brian J.; Matheson, Joanna; Recht, Joel R.; Minegishi, Taeko; Fragala, Matt A.; Myatt, Theodore A.; Spengler, John D.; Stewart, James; McCarthy, John F.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.01.067

Cited by 12 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Homes built since 2000 are designed to be even more energy efficient and therefore can be even tighter [0.1–0.2 ACH ( Allen et al 2012 ; ASHRAE 2013b )]. The > 100-year story of ventilation in buildings is complicated and was neatly summarized recently by Persily (2015) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations of Cognitive Function Scores with Carbon Dioxide, Ventilation, and Volatile Organic Compound Exposures in Office Workers: A Controlled Exposure Study of Green and Conventional Office Environments

Allen

MacNaughton²,

Satish³

et al. 2016

Environ Health Perspect

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625

435

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Background:The indoor built environment plays a critical role in our overall well-being because of both the amount of time we spend indoors (~90%) and the ability of buildings to positively or negatively influence our health. The advent of sustainable design or green building strategies reinvigorated questions regarding the specific factors in buildings that lead to optimized conditions for health and productivity.Objective:We simulated indoor environmental quality (IEQ) conditions in “Green” and “Conventional” buildings and evaluated the impacts on an objective measure of human performance: higher-order cognitive function.Methods:Twenty-four participants spent 6 full work days (0900–1700 hours) in an environmentally controlled office space, blinded to test conditions. On different days, they were exposed to IEQ conditions representative of Conventional [high concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)] and Green (low concentrations of VOCs) office buildings in the United States. Additional conditions simulated a Green building with a high outdoor air ventilation rate (labeled Green+) and artificially elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) levels independent of ventilation.Results:On average, cognitive scores were 61% higher on the Green building day and 101% higher on the two Green+ building days than on the Conventional building day (p < 0.0001). VOCs and CO2 were independently associated with cognitive scores.Conclusions:Cognitive function scores were significantly better under Green+ building conditions than in the Conventional building conditions for all nine functional domains. These findings have wide-ranging implications because this study was designed to reflect conditions that are commonly encountered every day in many indoor environments.Citation:Allen JG, MacNaughton P, Satish U, Santanam S, Vallarino J, Spengler JD. 2016. Associations of cognitive function scores with carbon dioxide, ventilation, and volatile organic compound exposures in office workers: a controlled exposure study of green and conventional office environments. Environ Health Perspect 124:805–812; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1510037

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations of Cognitive Function Scores with Carbon Dioxide, Ventilation, and Volatile Organic Compound Exposures in Office Workers: A Controlled Exposure Study of Green and Conventional Office Environments

Allen

MacNaughton²,

Satish³

et al. 2016

Environ Health Perspect

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625

435

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“…These problems were more prevalent in homes with drywall originating from China, and consequently problematic drywall became referred to as 'Chinese Drywall', even though the problematic material can come from other sources. Subsequent studies showed that volatile sulphur compounds including carbon disulphide, carbonyl sulphide and hydrogen sulphide were responsible for the damage [4,5]. Hereafter, we refer to drywall that has a tendency to outgas sulphur species at levels that become problematic as 'problematic' drywall.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elemental fingerprinting of gypsum drywall using sector field ICP-MS and multivariate statistics

Reidy

Williams

Bussan

et al. 2014

International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry

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Outgassing of volatile sulphur compounds from gypsum drywall from some sources has resulted in odours, corrosion of wiring and metals and health problems for homeowners. Infrared spectroscopy has been the primary analytical tool to identify 'problematic' drywall. In this paper, we demonstrate that elemental fingerprinting using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and multivariate statistics is an effective alternative. The approach also showed potential in determining the geographic source of gypsum. Nineteen elements (Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, Tl, U, V and Zn) were measured in 20 samples of drywall, half of which were classified as positive for contamination by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Gypsum from three different mines and a flue gas desulphurisation plant were also analysed. Principal component analysis and multivariate analysis of variance of the elemental data showed significant differences between the problematic and non-problematic drywall and between sources of gypsum. Strontium averaged 1800 ± 500 µg/g in problematic drywall compared to 400 ± 100 µg/g in non-problematic drywall (p < 0.0001).

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“…5 Carbonate and strontium in drywall was also elevated in complaint homes. 5 Migration and sensory changes of sterilized packaging materials affect the quality of packaged goods and the consumer's safety. 6 Migration and sensory properties of packaging materials are the subject of specific regulations.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…5 In December 2008, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission received its first reports on odors, corrosion, and health concerns related to drywall originated from China. 5 Homes, in which the drywall was installed, had higher hydrogen sulfide concentrations and greater rates of copper sulfide and silver sulfide corrosion compared to non-complaint homes. 5 Carbonate and strontium in drywall was also elevated in complaint homes.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…5 Homes, in which the drywall was installed, had higher hydrogen sulfide concentrations and greater rates of copper sulfide and silver sulfide corrosion compared to non-complaint homes. 5 Carbonate and strontium in drywall was also elevated in complaint homes. 5 Migration and sensory changes of sterilized packaging materials affect the quality of packaged goods and the consumer's safety.…”

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confidence: 99%

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