I'm Restricted to You, Don't You Know That You're Toxic?

Cheap materials, lax government standards at fault in toxic FEMA trailers

Posted at 12:25 PM on 03 Jul 2008

The toxic trailers used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to house thousands of homeless Gulf Coast residents after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were found to be troublesome to occupants' health due to cheap building materials and lax government standards for RVs, scientists said Wednesday. "Manufacturers of travel trailers and the government agencies that influence their design should consider using construction materials that emit lower levels of formaldehyde, as well as designs that increase outside air ventilation," said Michael McGeehin of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. But while that's under consideration, you don't have to wait for a hurricane to hit your neighborhood to get your own toxic trailer -- apparently they're on the market now. (Thanks, lax government standards!) FEMA received some 11,000 complaints about trailer occupants' health; some 19,000 FEMA trailers are still being used by Katrina victims.

source: The Washington Post

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Comments: (2 comments)

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Ultimate cause, rather than proximate cause

While I agree that the government should be held accountable for things like this, there is a more basic principle that needs attention: we shouldn't build or rebuild in flood plains, especially as the planet is heating up with global warming. My post on this topic:http://www.diamondcutlife.org/rebuilding-on-ten-feet-unde ...

by Alison Wiley at 9:12 AM on 04 Jul 2008

toxic trailers nothing new

the interesting thing about these trailers is that these are the only ones being considered "toxic"

formaldehyde is used in most trailers/cheap building construction and has been for many years

why wasn't anyone worried when Joe 6pack and Suzy Housecoat moved into the trailer park?

by freewin at 7:27 PM on 06 Jul 2008

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