Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2010, 11(2), 647-655; doi:10.3390/ijms11020647
Article

Isolation of Sulfur Reducing and Oxidizing Bacteria Found in Contaminated Drywall

Dennis G. Hooper 1,* email, John Shane 2 email, David C. Straus 3 email, Kaye H. Kilburn 4 email, Vincent Bolton 1 email, John S. Sutton 5 email and Frederick T. Guilford 1 email
1 RealTime Laboratories, LLC, 13016 Bee Street #203, Dallas, TX 79234, USA 2 PRO-LAB, Weston, FL 33326, USA 3 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA 4 Neuro-Test, Inc., Pasadena, CA 91107, USA 5 Embark Scientific, LLC, Austin, TX 78757, USA
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 22 January 2010 / Accepted: 29 January 2010 / Published: 5 February 2010
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Toxicology)
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Abstract: Drywall from China has been reported to release sulfur producing products which are corrosive to metals, result in noxious odors, and represent a significant health risk. It has been reported that these emissions produce medical symptoms such as respiratory or asthma type problems, sinusitis, gastrointestinal disorders, and vision problems in home owners and their household pets. We report here a method of identifying a causative agent for these emissions by sampling affected gypsum wallboard and subjecting those samples to Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction [RT-PCR] studies. Specific DNA probes and primers have been designed and patented that detect a specific iron and sulfur reducing bacterium (i.e., Thiobacillus ferrooxidans). One hundred percent of affected drywall samples obtained from homes located in the southeastern United States tested positive for the presence of T. ferrooxidans. All negative controls consisting of unaffected wallboard and internal controls, Geotrichum sp., tested negative within our limits of detection.
Keywords: Chinese drywall; Thiobacillus ferrooxidans; sulfur reducing bacteria; sulfur emissions

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Hooper, D.G.; Shane, J.; Straus, D.C.; Kilburn, K.H.; Bolton, V.; Sutton, J.S.; Guilford, F.T. Isolation of Sulfur Reducing and Oxidizing Bacteria Found in Contaminated Drywall. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2010, 11, 647-655.

AMA Style

Hooper DG, Shane J, Straus DC, Kilburn KH, Bolton V, Sutton JS, Guilford FT. Isolation of Sulfur Reducing and Oxidizing Bacteria Found in Contaminated Drywall. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2010; 11(2):647-655.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hooper, Dennis G.; Shane, John; Straus, David C.; Kilburn, Kaye H.; Bolton, Vincent; Sutton, John S.; Guilford, Frederick T. 2010. "Isolation of Sulfur Reducing and Oxidizing Bacteria Found in Contaminated Drywall." Int. J. Mol. Sci. 11, no. 2: 647-655.

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