More than two years after residents of FEMA trailers deployed along the Mississippi Gulf Coast began complaining of breathing difficulties, nosebleeds and persistent headaches, U.S. health officials announced Thursday that
long-awaited government tests found potentially hazardous levels of toxic formaldehyde gas in
…
What happens to old FEMA trailers?
FEMA is now in the process of selling the leftover trailers to the public via online auctions
. Click here to see the auction website. KBTX has learned the trailers that reportedly cost FEMA around $65,000 each, are now being sold on a government auction website with bids starting as low as $100.
Do all FEMA trailers have formaldehyde?
Average levels of formaldehyde in all FEMA-supplied travel trailers and mobile homes were about 77 parts per billion (ppb)
. Breathing this much formaldehyde over time at this level can affect health. The formaldehyde level was probably higher in newer trailers and mobile homes and when the weather was warm.
What does FEMA trailer look like?
When did they stop using formaldehyde in mobile homes?
Formaldehyde has never been banned from the manufacture of mobile homes
. But the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which has jurisdiction over mobile home construction, began setting standards for the levels of formaldehyde used in their construction back in 1985.
Where is formaldehyde used?
Formaldehyde is a strong-smelling, colorless gas used in
making building materials and many household products
. It is used in pressed-wood products, such as particleboard, plywood, and fiberboard; glues and adhesives; permanent-press fabrics; paper product coatings; and certain insulation materials.
Are people still living in FEMA trailers in New Orleans?
New Orleans once had more than 23,000 FEMA trailers, and
for many people still living in them, they are akin to permanent homes
. These residents say they will find it hard to make the city’s deadline. Edwin Weber Jr., 62, lives with his brother in a trailer crammed with stuff.
What is a FEMA tent?
Are travel trailers toxic?
Eventually they discovered that their health problems had been caused by exposure to formaldehyde and ethyl alcohol which were both present in their new unit.
These chemicals can be toxic to human beings
, and both are used in the manufacturing of certain materials that are in campers, travel trailers and motor homes.
How do you test for formaldehyde in your home?
Do all manufactured homes have formaldehyde?
Manufactured Homes are built in less than 2 weeks so
all of those products are releasing formaldehyde at the same time
, making them have a stronger formaldehyde exposure if a homeowner were to move in immediately after being built.
Is there formaldehyde in campers?
It is used in so many things, including most building materials.
Your RV, whether new or old, has probably been built with products containing traces of formaldehyde
. Unfortunately, some RV manufacturers are returning to building materials that used to be banned for travel-trailer use.
Are FEMA trailers furnished?
FEMA trailers come fully loaded with furnishings for use by the occupants
. The design is centered around a large single room which operates as a living area. It has a kitchen with a stove, refrigerator and microwave as well as a bathroom and master bedroom.
What are the symptoms of formaldehyde exposure?
- Breathing difficulties.
- Sleep interference.
- Fatigue.
- Skin irritation.
- Nausea.
- Headaches.
- Irritation of the eyes, throat, and nose.
- Watery eyes.
How do you get rid of formaldehyde in a mobile home?
Try to keep the temperature inside mobile homes at the lowest comfortable setting.
Run the air conditioner or dehumidifier to control mold
. Also, spend as much time outdoors in fresh air as possible. This is especially important for families with children, elderly people or those with chronic diseases such as asthma.
How can you tell if a mobile home has mold?
If you can see mold, or if there is an earthy or musty odor
, you can assume you have a mold problem. Visible mold growth is found underneath materials where water has damaged surfaces, behind walls or inside the vapor barrier under the sub-floor of the mobilehome. Look for discoloration and leaching from wall surfaces.
Is formaldehyde toxic to humans?
Formaldehyde is a highly toxic systemic poison
that is absorbed well by inhalation. The vapor is a severe respiratory tract and skin irritant and may cause dizziness or suffocation. Contact with formaldehyde solution may cause severe burns to the eyes and skin.
Is formaldehyde harmful to humans?
Health Effects of Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat
. High levels of exposure may cause some types of cancers.
How do you remove formaldehyde from wood furniture?
Running an air conditioner all the time will reduce the chances of off-gassing. Remove Formaldehyde from Furniture:
Applying a VOC and chemical removal product like the EnviroKlenz Everyday Odor Eliminator, onto furniture will eliminate both the chemical itself and the odor
.
What happened to the FEMA trailers from Katrina?
In 2009,
FEMA began disposing of the trailers brought to Mississippi
, with the General Service Administration acting as the sales agent. GSA conducted Internet auctions throughout the United States. In February 2009 GSA sold several bulk lots of the Katrina units — 101,802 units on 11 Internet auctions.
Where are the FEMA trailers stored?
Nearly 2,600 FEMA RVs and mobile homes are stored at
Chase Field in Beeville
. The staging area serves the southern region of the United States. Almost 2,600 FEMA RVs and mobile homes are stored in April at the former Chase Field in Beeville. The staging area serves the southern region of the United States.
Are FEMA trailers reused?
The official policy FEMA sent NPR says that when the agency’s trailer homes are deemed “unsuitable for disaster survivors elsewhere,”
FEMA can either put them up for auction or sell them to the current occupants
.
