Drywall problems reach Capitol Hill

NORFOLK, Va. - A truckload of drywall sits outside Venture Supply, Inc., one of a about 150 loads headed for the dump. The only thing Sam Porter has more of than bad drywall is paperwork.

"I would like to see some test results just as bad as anyone else," said Porter, owner of Venture Supply, "If it's a combination of the board, the copper? What is the problem?"

Ever since problems with Chinese drywall surfaced, Porter has been answering to government agencies, homeowners, and lawsuits - enough that he said he'll be dealing with this drywall the rest of his working life.

"It's 24-hours a day, seven days a week for me. It just does not stop," said Porter.

The imported drywall, which worked its way into American homes during a domestic sheetrock shortage, has now gotten national attention, with politicians like Senator Mark Warner demanding anwers.

"Do you say just suck it up?," asked Warner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Centers for Disease Control, referring to homeowners with the defective drywall installed. "What's the answer in the meantime?"

"If a homeowner does have symptoms," answered Lori Saltzman of the CPSC, "they absolutely first thing should consult with their physician."

Government agencies like the CPSC and the CDC have started their own tests and investigations into the chemicals inside Chinese drywall. The CPSC has even put out a warning: the drywall has been known to cause a rotten egg smell, irritated eyes, skin, asthma, corroded metal, appliance problems and more.

The Environmental Protection Agency said they've found high levels of sulfur and other chemicals in the drywall. But health experts caution more testing needs to be done before anyone can draw conclusions.

"Right now I haven't seen any data that tells me what the people are exposed to," said Dr. Michael McGeehin who works with the CDC. "I have some pretty good ideas based on what we've found in the elemental work."

The CPSC said they've received reports of 180 health problems from the Chinese drywall in thirteen different states and the District of Columbia.

They promised investigators would be in Hampton Roads within the week and that they'd issue a report within two weeks.