Submit your claim details for a free, no obligation case review
Get Started:
Testing in more than 500 FEMA trailers showed unhealthy levels of formaldehyde, a toxic chemical that could cause serious health effects such as respiratory problems and cancer.
FEMA spent more than $850 million on 25,000 trailers and manufactured homes in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to be distributed to victims. At one point, nearly 150,000 families were living in trailers supplied by FEMA.
Higher than New Homes
According to the recent test results, formaldehyde levels in the FEMA trailers ranged between 3 and 590 parts per billion (ppb), with an average of 77 ppb. Formaldehyde levels in new homes average between 10 and 20 ppb.
An official from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that about 30% of the FEMA trailers had high enough levels of the toxic chemical to cause health problems in children, the elderly, and adults with preexisting respiratory ailments.
Since 2005, the agency has received over 7,000 complaints from trailer residents about fumes and health problems.
Moving Families to Safer Places
FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison said the agency is currently trying to move families out of the toxic trailers.
“The issue is not what it will cost, but how fast we can move people out. We have to be very aggressive about it,” he said.
(Source: Los Angeles Times)
Victim of toxic exposure? Contact us today to learn more about your legal rights and options from an experienced attorney near you.
Copyright © 2001 - 2012 Online Lawyer Source
ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT—Thank you for your visit. The content published on this website was not written by medical professionals and should not, at any point, be mistaken for medical advice. Furthermore, the information on this site is intended for educational purposes only and should never interfere with a patient/site visitor and his or her healthcare provider. In addition, viewing the content on this website, requesting additional information, or transmitting information through a contact form should never be considered the formation of an attorney-client relationship. The material published on this site is general and may not apply to your specific circumstances. Every case comes with its own set of unique circumstances; past success discussed on this site does not guarantee future performance. Information found on this website should not be used as incentive to act without seeking counsel from a professional. For more information, please read our disclaimer.