Drywall woes hit Florida

Defective Chinese-made drywall, linked to reports of sickness and metal corrosion, has been shipped to Florida, as well as New Orleans and Los Angeles. Knauf, a German company, sent 67.3 million pounds of the construction material to the U.S. in 2006, according to the Datamyne, a Miami trade research firm. Homeowners on Florida’s west coast, the first to file complaints with the state, have reported that the drywall gas has corroded metals in household appliances and caused health problems. Complaints from South Florida have surfaced, too. Initial investigations have considered the possibility that gypsum used in the panels was contaminated and has caused odors and other problems.