CDC Confirms Health Risks to Occupants of Trailers

[Eugene]

Source: Washington Post

CDC Confirms Health Risks to Occupants of Trailers

By Spencer S. Hsu
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 14, 2008; Page A15

Federal health officials have confirmed that high levels of
formaldehyde gas pose health risks to hurricane victims housed
in 38,000 government trailers on the Gulf Coast, and will
recommend that occupants be moved before temperatures rise
this spring and summer, Bush administration officials disclosed
yesterday.

Federal scientists will say that those who have chronic health
conditions such as asthma, families with children, and older
residents should be moved first. The Federal Emergency Management
Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plan to
discuss the recommendation today in New Orleans and to begin
consultations with all of the roughly 100,000 trailer occupants,
an official said.

The findings cap nearly two years of internal government
deliberation over the housing of hurricane Katrina and Rita
survivors in the trailers, and come 23 months after FEMA first
received reports of health problems and test results showing
formaldehyde levels at 75 times the U.S.-recommended workplace
safety threshold.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/13/AR2008021303937.html

[newburgh]

1. I'm confused... what's new here? These were found to be contaminated

with high levels of formaldehyde when they were first delivered. A local government in NY was given a couple of these trailers last year because their town hall was found to have high levels of lead. They then "discovered" that the trailers, surprise, surprise, had high levels of formaldehyde. This would be funny if it wasn't such a waste of money and a health risk. What took them so long to make a decision now that it's most likely too late...

:banghead:

[Hestia]

2. What's even lovelier is that they are sending these same trailers

to tornado victims in Ark. It also seems to be okay to buy the trailers with high levels of formaldahyde (sp?) but not okay to get one for free? There are no laws to go after mfg housing manufactuers. The people in Ark live in areas with absolutely no apts or other type of housing and will gladly take them. What choice do they have?

[TexasBushwhacker]

3. I don't understand how this can still be happening

They've known about the formaldehyde problem for YEARS. How can the manufacturers still be producing mobile homes with this problem? It's actually a pretty easy fix. Just don't use plywood that uses formaldehyde and other high VOC adhesives. Yes, it costs a bit more, but it's not like the stuff isn't available.