MANATEE — A federal agency is investigating concerns about drywall manufactured in China that has been blamed for a foul odor and corrosion of metal components in some Florida homes.
For about a month, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has been looking into whether the sulfur compounds emitted from the drywall are corroding household components and causing a possible safety risk, said Joe Martyak, spokesman for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The agency is also on the ground working with the Florida Department of Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on the issue, he said.
In mid-February, U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, D-Fla., sent letters to both agencies requesting action.
“The commission needs to work with the EPA and other agencies to quickly determine the extent of problems with this drywall, order necessary remediation and create new safety standards to keep this from happening again,” Nelson said.