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Drywall made in China could be making people ill.

The number of homeowners complaining to the Florida health department about drywall odors has swelled to about 150.  Testing by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found that samples of Chinese-made drywall contained higher-than-expected levels of potentially dangerous compounds such as strontium, sulfur and two organic compounds which could be causing a variety of health problems.  The U.S. Department of Health claims that the levels of chemicals found in homes built with Chinese Drywall are not high enough to have toxic effects to humans.  So are we safe?  Maybe not.

Radon is a colorless, tasteless, naturally occurring radioactive gas found in soil and rock that is a by-product of decaying uranium.  You might be thinking, I’ve heard of uranium, don’t they make bombs from that?  Well, yes they do, but uranium occurs naturally in rocks all around the globe.  Some areas have a natural propensity to have higher concentrations of uranium than others.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral with long, thin fibrous crystals. The word asbestos (ἄσβεστος) is a borrowed Greek adjective meaning inextinguishable. The Greeks termed asbestos the miracle mineral because of its soft and pliant properties, as well as its ability to withstand heat.  This article describes this miracle mineral and why asbestos in your home can be toxic to you and your family.