Chinese Drywall & Mold

The news media has generated tremendous  fear associated with health problems caused by Chinese Drywall.  However, this widespread fear may be entirely misplaced.   Headaches, cough, sinus problems and breathing problems are also associated with the presence of mold.  Given the fact that Chinese Drywall was installed in a vast minority of homes, it is far more likely that problems associated with the symptoms identified above are caused by mold as a result of water intrusion.  For example, roof leaks, window leaks and door leaks will allow water to enter into a home possibly leading to the development of mold.  Likewise, if there is a fault – even a small fault—in an air conditioning system, the collision of warm air and cold air will result in condensation which, very likely, will result in mold growth.  It should also be noted that it is not uncommon for air conditioning coils to turn black due to the presence of mold (this issue is also known to occur in Chinese Drywall cases). 

The point is this:  if anyone has the symptoms mentioned above, the public should also be aware that there may be a culprit other than Chinese Drywall.   If there is a concern over the presence of Chinese Drywall, we would recommend that a home be tested for the presence of mold as well.  We also suggest that homeowners discuss problems with other homeowners in their community to find out if there are common complaints and issues.  We would not be surprised to find out that other individuals have issues with, for example, their air conditioning systems or windows.  If there are common complaints like these, homeowners should not limit their investigation solely to the existence of Chinese Drywall.  Instead, we believe it is imperative that the home be tested for mold as well.

We are not downplaying the presence of Chinese Drywall and we continue to be interested in pursuing these claims.  However, we feel it important for the public to understand that health problems may be caused by something other than Chinese Drywall, e.g., mold, and that determining the source of the problem in a home should not be limited to one cause only.

This article does not constitute legal advice or the formation of an attorney-client relationship, and is not for re-publication without express permission of the author.