High Levels of Formaldehyde in FEMA Trailers

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February 22nd, 2008

"Formaldehyde Levels Higher Than Average"

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)

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