NEW YORK: US federal investigators said on Monday that a "strong association" exists between chemicals in Chinese drywall installed in thousands of homes during the housing boom and electrical problems in those homes.

But the connection between the drywall and the health problems reported by homeowners still remains to be investigated, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The finding is the second in a series of progress reports on a widespread investigation into complaints by homeowners that their newly built homes were giving off a rotten egg odor and causing respiratory problems, and that appliances and electrical systems were failing quickly.