Astronauts and scientists in the space station remark on the ability to see the Great Wall of China from outer space – a man-made wonder of years of manual labour. They also report seeing the scar of the oil sands project, another man-made wonder, but this an environmental blight on the landscape. What they are not seeing from their lofty perch above the earth is combination of Chinese manufacturing and the environmental disaster now known as ‘Chinese Drywall’.

During the building boom in the early years of this past decade, builders in the United States were faced with a shortage of drywall – that gypsum board that covers most of the walls and ceilings in our modern homes. Added to the surge in demand for homes were the disasters of several hurricanes, twisters and other natural disasters that necessitated the rebuilding of homes. Builders in the US and Western Canada turned to China for their drywall. Shiploads of drywall landed at ports in the US and Vancouver. Some of the drywall was toxic. How much of the dangerous drywall was used inside China, or in other countries, we may never know, but homeowners and lawyers in the US are finding many reasons to sue. The question is: who is liable for selling, shipping and installing contaminated drywall?

We often complain about too much government bureaucracy in our lives, wishing the government would just leave us alone to make our own way through life. There are too many rules and regulations on everything from driving a car to how much trans fat is allowed in our fast foods. We grumble about all the restrictions on how we build our nests – from the size and spacing of our rafters for snow loading to how high our balcony railing must be. Those few of us who still have a sprinkling of common sense could do without much of the red tape that tangles around us in everyday life. The problem is that so much of what we do today is connected to the acts of other people, some of them halfway around the world.

In the case of the contaminated drywall, did the Chinese government inspect the mine or the product? Does the Chinese government ‘interfere’ in the lives of its citizens and businesses as much as our government? Did anyone know that the gypsum was contaminated with toxic waste or mixed with fly ash? Are people falling ill, their electrical wiring and devices corroding or their walls crumbling in China?

Did the German multinational company that runs one of the mines and sells the product know about the contamination and toxicity of the drywall they were making and selling? Or did the employees at the mine and plant know, but were silent to keep their jobs? Once the drywall was shipped, did anyone on the ships notice the smell of hydrogen sulphide and wonder what it was? When the drywall arrived at the building supply wholesalers, did anyone look for any sign of certification of worthiness, or was this not a consideration for something as basic as drywall? After all, what could possibly be wrong with drywall or Gyproc? Or did they mix the Chinese drywall in with American or Canadian drywall so any sign of lower quality would be diffused in their truckloads of sheeting desperately needed by builders to answer the demand for reconstruction and new homes?

We are now leery of painted toys made in China, toothpaste and cosmetics that may contain lead or other toxic fillers. We check the quality of the foodstuffs, the solder on their cookware and the stitching on their jeans, but apparently not their drywall. The carpenters and electricians who may have noticed the smell may have been told by the foreman that is was just a Chinese smell or the stuff got wet on the boat. Keep working.

Of course there are North American manufacturers who are not above cutting a few corners or builders who will use the cheapest supplies they can get their hands on. The risks of being caught are weighed against the rewards and life goes on. Nonetheless, it is reassuring to look at a product and see that ‘Made in Canada’ or ‘Made in the USA’ label. That CSA sticker carries some weight even though it comes with a cost.

Those people who have fallen ill or whose homes must be gutted to remove the effects of ‘Chinese Drywall’ no doubt wish that some bureaucratic inspector had tested the drywall and stopped its use. Sometimes it is nice to know that our government is looking after our best interests.

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