MORE BAD STUFF FROM CHINA

Defective Drywalls and Leaky valve stems. What price global trade with China?
Associated Press Story: April 11. 2009…Parklland, Florida

Brian Skloff and Cain Burdeau report that there may be 100,000 homes recently built in the US that are uninhabitable due to fact that the Chinese-manufactured-wall boards that line their interior walls emit hydrogen sulfide gas, which discolors metal, tarnishes jewelery, smells awful (having the aroma of rotten eggs) generates sore throats and headaches and may be causing a toxic environment for the inhabitants—if they could stand the smell long enough to get really sick.

The authors reveal that over 500 million pounds of cheap Chinese wall board was imported into the USA. This product was manufactured during a four-year period during the last housing boom—a time when American-produced gypsum board was expensive and difficult to get. The Chinese manufacturers apparently used substandard, sulfur-bearing minerals and may have used adulterants such as unrefined fly-ash which is itself a toxic substance. Fly ash is a by-product of coal-fired electric plants. In the prcess of scrubbing the smoke sulfure oxides are released and are combined with a calcium scrubber to produce a dry substance--calciumsulfate which is the mineral gypsum. These materials are used to prepare gypsum board even here in the USA. However it is suspected that the process used in China may have permitted the introduction of other forms of uncombined sulfur within the wall board, which, when exposed to heat and moisture give off the colorless, smelly, flammable and toxic, gas known as hydrogen-sulfide (H2S).

However, according to the AP report, Dr. Patricia Williams, a University of New Orleans toxicologist hired by a Louisiana law firm that represents plaintiffs in some of the cases, said she has identified hydrogen sulfide in the Chinese drywall as well as other highly toxic compounds, including sulfuric acid, sulfur dioxide and carbon disulfide. These other substances may act to increase the toxicity and noxiousness of the gases. The serious complaints including the stench and physical effects seem to suggest that it is H2S that is the main culprit. H2S is indeed toxic and highly objectionable substance.

[Acccording to Wikipedia: Hydrogen sulfide is a highly toxic and flammable gas. Being heavier than air, it tends to accumulate at the bottom of poorly ventilated spaces. Although very pungent at first, it quickly deadens the sense of smell, so potential victims may be unaware of its presence until it is too late.

H2S is considered a broad-spectrum poison, meaning that it can poison several different systems in the body, although the nervous system is most affected. The toxicity of H2S is comparable with that of hydrogen cyanide. It forms a complex bond with iron in the mitochondrial cytochrome enzymes, thereby blocking oxygen from binding and stopping cellular respiration. Since hydrogen sulfide occurs naturally in the environment and the gut, enzymes exist in the body capable of detoxifying it by oxidation to (harmless) sulfate.[4] Hence, low levels of sulfide may be tolerated indefinitely.

At some threshold level, the oxidative enzymes will be overwhelmed. This threshold level is believed to average around 300-350 ppm. Many personal safety gas detectors, such as those used by utility, sewage and petrochemical workers, are set to alarm at as low as 5 to 10 ppm and to go into high alarm at 15 ppm.

An interesting diagnostic clue of extreme poisoning by H2S is the discoloration of copper coins in the pockets of the victim. Treatment involves immediate inhalation of amyl nitrite, injections of sodium nitrite, inhalation of pure oxygen, administration of bronchodilators to overcome eventual bronchospasm, and in some cases hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO). HBO therapy has anecdotal support and remains controversial.[5][6][7]

Exposure to lower concentrations can result in eye irritation, a sore throat and cough, nausea, shortness of breath, and fluid in the lungs. These symptoms usually go away in a few weeks. Long-term, low-level exposure may result in fatigue, loss of appetite, headaches, irritability, poor memory, and dizziness. Chronic exposures to low level H2S (around 2 ppm) has been implicated in increased miscarriage and reproductive health issues amongst Russian and Finnish wood pulp workers, but the reports hadn't (as of circa 1995) been replicated. Higher concentrations of 700-800 ppm tend to be fatal.

0.0047 ppm is the recognition threshold, the concentration at which 50% of humans can detect the characteristic odor of hydrogen sulfide [1], normally described as resembling "a rotten egg".

10-20 ppm is the borderline concentration for eye irritation.
50-100 ppm leads to eye damage.
At 150-250 ppm the olfactory nerve is paralyzed after a few inhalations, and the sense of smell disappears, often together with awareness of danger,
320-530 ppm leads to pulmonary edema with the possibility of death.
530-1000 ppm causes strong stimulation of the central nervous system and rapid breathing, leading to loss of breathing;
800 ppm is the lethal concentration for 50% of humans for 5 minutes exposure(LC50).

Concentrations over 1000 ppm cause immediate collapse with loss of breathing, even after inhalation of a single breath.

Hydrogen sulfide was used by the British as a chemical agent during World War One. It was not considered to be an ideal war gas, but while other gasses were in short supply it was used on two occasions in 1916.[8] ]

This "wall board problem" seems to be concentrated in the south and southeast. This is the region of the country which experienced the greatest amount of construction during the latter years of the housing boom (that time was also coincident with the wall-board shortage) and it also has a warm, damp climate in which the problem is most likely to show up. However, other regions of the country where these boards were used may well report similar problems with these defective materials in time. It is unfortunate that this region—the southeast—struggling with falling home prices, faltering banks and mortgage default, should also experience this additonal burden of smelly, toxic Chinese wall boards.

The AP report quotes a member of the Krulic family, who reside in a Florida community where Chinese wall boards were used and who along with their children, have suffered serious health problems over the last three years residing in their affected home. "If a shiny copper coil can turn absolutely black within a matter of months, it certainly can’t be good for human beings. " said Mrs Krulic.

As you might have guessed, the importers and manufacturers have been downplaying the health aspects of this situation and prefer to classify the problem as an aesthetic, simple olfactory issue.
While one of the Chinese manufacturers, Knaupf Plasterboard Tianjin, claims their toxicologist found only "low levels of naturally occurring compounds normally occurring in "ocean water, salt marsh air and in estuaries". Another Chinese manufacturer claims the boards were manufactured to existing US standards. For homeowners suits directed at the home construction companies are of little use since many are either in Chapter 11 or have abandoned the region or are now defunct companies. The homeowners seem to have no recourse. Some must make the choice between theirs and their children’s health and their financial well being. Those who must make these choices invariably decide on the side of their children’s health and choose to abandon their homes (and of course, some simply walk away and quit paying their mortgages). The problem seems to be one that will simply exacerbate the present housing crisis.

WHAT ABOUT DEFECTIVE CHINESE TIRE VALVE STEMS?

I heard an interesting story today (April 11, 2009) on the radio. The broadcast was that of those two amusing brothers--on NPR--who answer caller’s questions on automobile problems. They are very easy, pleasant and informative listening.

A man called in to complain that when he parked his car overnight, all four tires went flat. "You have an angry neighbor," commented one of the brothers. "Well I thought so too," said the caller, "so after refilling the tires that day, I locked the car up in the garage the next night and the same thing happened. All the tires were soft again in the morning." "I’m suspecting a kid with roof nails to spare," said the second brother. "Not according to my garage attendant," replied the caller. "Not one of them had a nail."

"Wait a minute!" said brother one. I seem to remember a story in Consumers Report about a car roll-over. Unfortunately the driver died. It was attributed to defective valves in his tires.

Strange?

Not so strange. The valve stems were all manufactured in China These little rubber based valves installed in the metal of your car's wheel-rims could rupture instantaneously and cause a tire to deflate nearly instantly or simply slowly leak air. The caller's problem was the latter one. See Consumer Report at: http://blogs.consumerreports.org/safety/2008/06/tire-valve-stem.htmlRead: http://jalopnik.com/5045535/chinese-valve-stem-warning-could-affect-everyone-whos-had-tires-replaced-since-2006

A vast valve stem recall is underway.

Apparently anyone who had their tires replaced since September 2006, and who hasn’t? Might have defective valve stems installed. To find out you will have to go through the expense of removing the tire from it rim and looking at the rubber base of the stem.

According to Andrew Stoy in his September 2008 story, (at Jalopnick.com) Consumer Reports warns of a potential problem with as many as 30 million rubber replacement valve stems manufactured in China for NC-based Dill Air Control Products and sold after mid-2006. While a federal recall hasn't yet been issued, NHTSA has opened an investigation after a Florida man died following a blowout and flip allegedly caused by one of the defective valve stems. Yes, it was a Ford Explorer. So, how do you know if you have one of the millions of potentially deadly valve stems on your car?

Identifying a defective valve stem is simple: Dismount each tire from its rim and check. That's right, folks: There's no outward marking to identify the defective valve stems, nor was any tracking system in place to determine who may or may not have received one. So, if you're part of the at-risk group, you probably want to keep both hands on the wheel until NHTSA sorts all this out. [Consumer Reports; Photo and tons of great valve stem info at Techno-Fandom.org]

Just add these two to the other Chinese import scandals--Melamine laced milk powder, baby formula, pet foods and candies; lead painted toys; and now tire-valve stems and sulfur laced wall boards all from our favored nation trading partner China.

My best advice is to keep checking those labels!