Reactive drywall, more commonly known as Chinese drywall, was imported from China between 2001 and 2009 due to an American shortage of material. It contained extraneous materials such as sulfur, strontium, and iron. In warmer and more humid climates, this drywall emitted various sulfur gasses that caused copper and other metal surfaces to become black and powdery.

Hydroxyl generators have been used for nearly a decade to eliminate smoke odors on countless projects around the world. However, because hydroxyls are so reactive and powerful, there are many other applications in the disaster restoration industry  from which contractors are profiting.