“Made in China”? Send it back
Back in 2007, it was a massive recall of toys, dog food and toothpaste that had millions of products taken off the shelves. All of these products shared a stamp that nine out of 10 American household items do: “Made in China.”
Today, a new concern has made its way from the East.
Is it lead paint again this time? What about poison? Maybe it’s antifreeze? As of yet, no one seems to really know the exact cause.
What is known is that thousands of people are beginning to complain about an array of health problems that appear to be related to Chinese drywall.
Florida has been the state most affected. According to NewsInferno.com, it has something to do with drywall that was imported from China during Florida’s construction boom years of 2004 to 2005. The news blog also reported that whatever is being emitted from these walls – many describe a corrosive gas-like smell, something like sulfur – is corroding metal wiring such as copper, causing heating and cooling systems to fail.
Whatever the instigating chemical, as it appears to be, hundreds of families nationwide are experiencing symptoms such as nosebleeds and upper respiratory infections, with most blaming the drywall.
The concern surrounding this is so great that a new form has been added to many real estate listing agreements regarding Chinese drywall, creating a new legal problem for American builders.
With most American products “Made in China,” this is more than a serious problem. The American people have to ask, “Why?” Is it a simple lack of care or attention, cutting costs, inadvertently cutting lives? Is it a premeditated plot for power? These questions have all been posed, but no solid answers have yet surfaced.
Avoiding products with a Chinese stamp might be your best bet at avoiding these potentially serious health issues, but how do you watch out for something that’s just about everywhere?
Brittany @ May 8, 2009