I personally have not come in contact with "the chinese drywall problem" nor has anyone I know of here in the office. However, there has been a little "buzz" about recently in the real estate market, especially when we are talking about Katrina and the rebuilding of New Orleans. Therefor I wanted to provide what information has passed underneath my nose. So…

Chinese Drywall What is it? What are the symptoms? What are   the health risks? For m  ore information this is one site to visit. 

This is also part of an email I received, though I have not verified the information. I have read it though and it looks legitimate, (otherwise I would not include it).

This number may help too for Louisiana Residents; Louisiana Governor Jindal has provided a phone number for  residents concerned about possible Chinese drywall problems.  Residents can contact the Louisiana Health Department hotline and leave a message by calling 1-888-293-7020.

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Did you know that not all drywall manufactured from China is a source of Hydrogen Sulfide?   Some defective drywall is not stamped at all. There are a few reported cases where defective drywall bears the name of a U.S. company.  It is unknown whether the drywall was actually manufactured in the U.S. or made in China and re-branded here.

OSHA warns that levels of 300 ppm of Hydrogen Sulfide Gas causes the olfactory nerve, in the nose of humans, to lose sensitivity. At first a "rotten egg" odor is detected but on the second or third breath, the odor is no longer noticed. At 600 ppm, breathing is inhibited, as the lungs fill with the gas. At higher levels, paralysis of the lungs occurs and only immediate removal from the gaseous area and immediate application of oxygen can save the victim.

Hydrogen sulfide has a very low odor threshold (<1 ppm part per million).  The odor increases with concentration, up to about 30 ppm.  Between about 30 and 100 ppm, the gas is reported to have a sickening sweet odor.  At concentrations above 100 ppm, the olfactory nerves in the nose are temporarily paralyzed, leading to a loss of the sense of smell.  Therefore, dangerously high concentrations may be present with no perceivable odor.  Prolonged exposure to lower concentrations can also result in similar effects of olfactory nerve fatigue.  This unusual property of hydrogen sulfide makes it extremely dangerous to rely totally on the sense of smell to warn of the presence of the gas.

Sulfides are broad spectrum poisons, meaning that they can poison several different body systems.  The nervous system is usually most affected.  Of greatest concern would be hydrogen sulfide. Whether handling in the pure gaseous form or by generation from various sulfide salts.  Sulfide toxicity is comparable with that of cyanide.  In the body sulfides can form complex bonds with iron, blocking oxygen uptake and stopping cellular respiration.  The body can detoxify sulfide, oxidizing it to sulfate.  Very low levels of sulfide can be tolerated indefinitely.  However, at some threshold level, the oxidative enzymes would be overwhelmed. 

It is recommended that anyone experiencing allergic reactions while inhabiting a particular home or building should seek a professional environmental evaluation of the structure in order to determine the type of contaminants that might be present.

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Hope this helps anyone understand more about what is going on.

Thank You

Marc Pellettiere

marcp@scogginproperties.com

Visit www.StTammanyHomesAndLand.com for more information on Real Estate in St Tammany Parish, including Mandeville, Covington, and Slidell, LA.