It seems thousands of United States homeowners claim that they are becoming sick as a result of defective Chinese drywall, claiming a “rotten egg” odor; headaches; nausea and vomiting; respiratory problems; and corrosion of metals in the home, including of jewelry, wiring, air conditioning units, and other appliances.

The Daily Herald points out that millions of gypsum sheets imported to the United States during the housing boom appear to have been contaminated with an array of sulfur compounds. The gypsum in drywall, which typically comes from mines, has recently come from a chemical process involving lime or limestone and gas from coal-fired power plants. Contaminants and sulfur found in power plant smokestacks are supposed to be removed in the process. Failure of proper removal is the cause of foul odors, respiratory complaints, and corrosion, according to some Chinese experts in building supplies. Others say phosphogypsum (calcium sulfate), a radioactive phosphorus substance, is to blame. Banned for use in U.S. construction in 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says prolonged exposure to this radium-contained element can lead to a higher risk of lung cancer. Continue »

Following the deaths of three babies within a two-week period, authorities in Holland have banned a batch of Prevenar, also known as Prevnar, reported Reuters. The babies all died within two weeks of receiving the vaccination.

“On average about five to 10 deaths are reported annually after babies get vaccines,” said a spokeswoman for the Dutch health institute RIVM, quoted Reuters. “We now have three cases in a short period, that is unusual and the reason for suspending the batch,” she added, noting that RIVM is looking into the infants’ cause of death. Continue »

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing this health alert to warn consumers not to use Pet Carousel Pig Ears and Beef Hooves Pet Treats because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The products were distributed nationwide in both bulk and retail packaging for sale in pet food and retail chain stores. Pet Carousel is based in Sanger, California.

The FDA reported that the recalled Pet Carousel Pig Ears and Beef Hoove Pet Treats were manufactured under conditions that facilitate cross-contamination within batches or lots. Although no illnesses associated with these products have been reported, the FDA is advising consumers in possession of these products to not handle or feed them to their pets. Continue »

About 15,000 Fall 2009 Newbury Travel Mugs, imported by the S Group, of Portland, Oregon and manufactured by Pow Can, of Zhejiang, China, have been recalled, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced.

The recalled Fall 2009 Newbury Travel Mugs can become excessively hot to the touch when filled with hot liquids, posing a burn hazard to consumers. To date, the firm has received three reports of excessively hot mugs, including one complaint of a minor burn to the hand. Continue »

About 43,000 Samsung™ Over-the-Range Microwave Ovens imported by Samsung Electronics America Inc., of Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, have been recalled for shock hazard, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced.

If an installation bolt from the recalled Samsung™ Over-the-Range Microwave Ovens comes in contact with an electrical component inside the unit and the microwave is plugged into an ungrounded outlet, it could create a shock hazard. To date, no incidents or injuries have been reported. Continue »

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers that Stiff Nights, a product marketed as a dietary supplement for sexual enhancement, contains an ingredient that can dangerously lower blood pressure and is illegal. Stiff Nights contains sulfoaildenafil, a chemical similar to sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra.

Following a consumer complaint, the FDA determined that the product contains sulfoaildenafil and warns that sulfoaildenafil may interact with prescription drugs known as nitrates, including nitroglycerin, and may cause dangerously low blood pressure. Continue »

About 10,000 Young Artist Easels, manufactured by MacPherson’s of Emeryville, California have been recalled, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced.

MacPherson’s Young Artist Easels have been recalled because the chalkboard surface coating contains high levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard. To date, no incidents or injuries have been reported; however, of note, adverse health reactions resulting from exposure are not generally immediately evident. Continue »

Adventure Playsets Wooden Play Sets—about 275,000 in the United States and 6,800 in Canada—distributed by Adventure Playsets, of Amarillo, Texas have been recalled, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced.

The Adventure Playsets Wooden Play Sets have been recalled because the plastic coated lumber on the horizontal ladder (monkey bar/swing beam) can weaken over time due to rotting of the whitewood (spruce, pine, and fir species), resulting in a fall hazard. To date, Adventure Playsets has received more than 1,400 reports of rotting ladders involving 16 injuries that resulted in nine emergency room visits. The injuries include two arm fractures, lacerations, scrapes, and bruises to children younger than eight years old. Most of the reported injuries occurred when the swing came out of the monkey bar/ swing beam that had rotted. Continue »

Light cigarettes are not all they’re cracked up to be when it comes to quitting smoking, according to an emerging study, says WebMD. Experts found that the switch to what Web MD described as “light,” “ultra-light,” or “low-tar” cigarettes could actually undermine well-intentioned smoking cessation attempts.

Most cigarettes—about 84 percent, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)—are labeled as lower in tar and nicotine, reported WebMD. Continue »

Following an announcement this week regarding Chinese drywall litigation, the Miami Herald just announced that Florida State is sponsoring The Technical Symposium on Corrosive Imported Drywall to discuss the problem. The Symposium is scheduled in Tampa for Thursday and Friday.

The prior announcement—a one-time offer made by Knauf Plasterboard (Tianjin) Co., Ltd.—is expected to do much to streamline the process for suing the major drywall manufacturer. As we wrote, to take advantage of this one time offer, Chinese drywall claimants must sign on to an omnibus class action lawsuit by December 2, 2009. Continue »