Banned product could be source of drywall problems

Some Chinese experts believe that the source of the malodorous Chinese drywall now being found in homes in Florida and elsewhere around the country is phosphogypsum, a radioactive waste byproduct. The material is banned from use in U.S. construction projects because it contains radium, which can lead to a higher risk of lung cancer. But Chinese manufacturers have been using phosphogypsum for nearly a decade. At least four China-based manufacturers and trading firms made drywall with phosphogypsum and shipped it to the U.S. in 2006, according to Chinese customs reports obtained by the Los Angeles Times.