Health Risks From FEMA Trailers

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has completed its preliminary analysis, testing the level of formaldehyde in occupied FEMA trailers that were issued to hurricane victims after Katrina.

Results weren't good. Here they are, straight from the CDC's website:

• "In many trailers, mobile homes, and park models tested, formaldehyde levels were elevated relative to typical levels of US indoor exposure."
• "Average levels of formaldehyde in all units was about 77 parts per billion (ppb). This level is higher than US background levels. Levels measured ranged from 3 ppb to 590 ppb."
• "These measured levels are likely to under-represent long-term exposures since formaldehyde levels tend to be higher in newer travel trailers and mobile homes and during warmer weather."
• "Indoor temperature was a significant factor for formaldehyde levels in this study independent of trailer make or model."
• "Formaldehyde levels varied by model (mobile homes, park homes, and travel trailers), but all types of trailers tested had some high levels."
• "At the levels seen in many trailers, health could be affected."

So what does this mean for the hurricane victims? According to the Washington Post, formaldehyde can "cause vision and respiratory problems, and long-term exposure has been linked to cancer, as well as to asthma, bronchitis and allergies in children."

Here's what CDC Director Julie Gerberding has to say: "We're also concerned because they've been in there 18 months, and even a low level could result in large cumulative exposure. We know less about effects of chronic exposure. It's very important we reduce it as much and as quickly as we can, and the way to do that is to get people out of these homes."

Comments (5) «

Formaldehyde pollution, caused by plastics, flam insulation, adhesives, etc. have been known to be high in house trailer, and modular homes for years.
Were these trailers built under more of those no-oversight government contracts that the Bushiato is so infamous for?
So many things that demand investigations, so little time.

1

Butte on February 14, 2008 at 06:47 PM

It is important to keep homes and office buildings well-ventilated. This is tough to do in mid-winter or durng the peak hot days of the summer. Beginning in the 1970s, more insulation and weather proofing were added to homes and buildings to make them more energy efficient. One side effect of reducing drafts was to reduce ventilation. Whenever possible, it is important to open the windows to let fresh air in.

2

john_mainstream on February 14, 2008 at 08:20 PM

Nice eh? But, what did the Chimpenfuhrer do to help these people re-build the 9th ward? Answer - basically nothing! What a disgrace.

3

rjsnj on February 15, 2008 at 07:21 AM

Most new trailers have ventilation systems built into them to allow for air exchange even with all the doors and windows closed.
I wonder if that ventilation system was bypassed in the name of expediency (and saving the company money on construction).

4

Butte on February 15, 2008 at 09:51 AM

What are acceptable levels of formaldehyde? I see no mention of the range of ppb that falls within CDC's criteria for acceptable health risk. Are levels regulated by Clean Air Act? So wasn't Blackstone getting $$$$mil for providing this FEMA housing post Katrina? I wonder how much that contract cost Erik Prince in campaign contributions and lobbying costs to the Republican war machine. Screwing the impoverished and destitute refugees of disaster and the taxpayers, once again.

5

maryfree on February 15, 2008 at 06:32 PM

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