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CDC Review Finds No Link Between Problem Drywall and 11 Reported Deaths

Release Date: January 31, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. -  A review provided to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Environmental Health finds that there is no evidence linking exposure to problem drywall and 11 reported deaths. The CDC review confirms the results of previous reviews conducted by CPSC into these deaths, which also found no link to problem drywall.

The CDC review (pdf), which was requested by CPSC, summarizes investigations by state public health authorities of the available medical records of 11 people who died and had previously lived in or visited homes reported to contain problem drywall. State public health authorities concluded that problem drywall was not a factor in the deaths. The CDC review was limited to the 11 deceased individuals.www.DrywallResponse.gov

CPSC is in the final stages of completing its scientific investigation into problem drywall. As part of this process, CPSC has requested that the CDC consider undertaking a comprehensive study of any possible long-term health effects.

For additional findings from the Interagency Drywall Task Force's investigation, visit www.DrywallResponse.gov

Release Number
11-115

About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years. 

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