How many complaints has FEMA received about potential formaldehyde emissions in travel trailers to date?
Of the 120,000 travel trailers and mobile homes provided to survivors of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Gulf, FEMA has documented 206 complaints of strange odors, including formaldehyde complaints. At residents’ requests, FEMA switched out units for trailers that had already been used and ventilated. FEMA distributed information to trailer occupants across the country explaining how persons sensitive to formaldehyde may be affected by its presence and laid out actions that should be taken to reduce exposure in the trailers. • Does FEMA have any information on how many trailers might be affected? All new, unused and unventilated travel trailers have formaldehyde in them. The concentration of formaldehyde can be reduced significantly by ventilating the units by running fans with open doors and windows. Other factors that affect the levels of formaldehyde indoors include the type and age of source materials, temperature and humidity. It also is important to recognize that some people
Related Questions
- Has FEMA changed any policies with regard to acceptable formaldehyde levels in travel trailers since Gulf Coast residents started complaining about exposure?
- What did FEMA do initially to address complaints about formaldehyde emissions in travel trailers?
- Has FEMA replaced any trailers as a result of complaints about formaldehyde in travel trailers?
