But Is the Drywall Safe to Eat?

Two years ago the Chinese were sending us pet food ingredients contaminated with a substance called melamine, which ended up killing hundreds--maybe thousands--of cats and dogs. Not having learned their lesson, they then began spiking their own baby formulas with the substance. Meanwhile, just keep us on our toes, Chinese manufacturers would periodically send us toys made with lead paint.

The good news is that those wacky Chinese have finally learned their lesson: No more melamine or lead for Americans.

The bad news, however, is that now they're sending us drywall containing sulfur. And in case you're wondering, no, sulfur is not a standard ingredient in housing materials.

Not only does sulfur smell bad, it also has a bad habit of eating through copper. Consequently, many homeowners (well, at least the ones who are still able to live in their homes) are finding that the copper coils in their air conditioners are disintegrating. Many of the people living in those houses are also complaining of respiratory ailments.

However, at least one home builder who used the materials is saying that tests show that sulfur gas is safe for humans.

Makes sense. Just because something causes metal to disintegrate doesn't necessarily mean it will turn your lungs to mush.