Homeowners can scratch radioactivity from their list of Chinese drywall concerns. Posted 8/17/2009.

State and federal officials found traces of phosphogypsum in Chinese and domestic drywall samples they tested, but levels of the radioactive phosphate byproduct were so low that they don’t pose a hazard, according to a report released Friday.

“Based on the analytical results from this limited sampling event, the technical team believes that neither the imported nor domestic drywall tested pose a radiological concern,” the report said.

The toxic drywall emits a corrosive gas that damages appliances, gives off a rotten-egg stench. It was used in an estimated 100,000 houses nationwide built during the housing boom. The health effects of the drywall are still under investigation, but homeowners have complained of headaches, dry eyes, rashes and respiratory problems.

Agencies, including the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state health departments are investigating.

The consumer product safety commission is expected to announce results soon of testing for radioactive phosphogypsum by the Florida health department and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The toxic drywall has been found in 23 states, but the majority of complaints are from Florida. That’s partly because humidity brings out the corrosive gas faster, experts say.

The drywall was used because of a shortage during the aftermath of hurricanes. Builders typically use domestic drywall but turned to the imported drywall during the housing boom, mainly from 2004 through 2007.

Builders say they didn’t know about the bad drywall because subcontractors ordered it from distributors.

Some builders have offered to move residents out of their homes, tear out all the bad drywall and replace appliances and wiring. It costs an estimated $100,000 per home to make the repairs.

Lennar Corp. said last month in a securities filing that it has set aside about $40 million to repair 400 houses in Florida. Some homeowners are joining class-action lawsuits against home builders, drywall manufacturers and distributors. Many of the suits are being consolidated in federal court in New Orleans.