As of June 2009, residents in 19 states and the District of Columbia have reported to local, state, and federal officials that they are experiencing health symptoms or metal corrosion in their homes that they believe may be related to imported drywall. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) are working to find out if health risks are posed from imported drywall. The agencies are pooling their knowledge and efforts to develop public health recommendations.
Defining the hazard
- To learn about possible health effects of exposure to chemicals in imported drywall, scientists must first understand if and how those chemicals enter people’s bodies.
- CDC is working with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and state health departments to learn about possible health problems from living in a home with imported drywall.
- CDC is helping the federal agencies responsible for indoor and outdoor air testing make sure that the results can help answer health questions.
Answering health questions
CDC is working closely with state health departments to tell people concerned about imported drywall how to protect their health.
Protecting workers
CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is interested in evaluating potential worker exposures associated with the removal of imported drywall. To request a NIOSH health hazard evaluation visit the health hazard evaluation program. For general information on demolition hazards visit the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) Demolition Standards Webpage.
Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd
Atlanta, GA 30333 - 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348
24 Hours/Every Day - cdcinfo@cdc.gov
