FEMA Trailers Contain Toxic Formaldehyde, Lawsuit Claims

By Monica Galvan

Published on May 22, 2007

The suit seeks compensation from the federal government as well as from private contractors for injuries allegedly caused by exposure to high levels of formaldehyde, a human carcinogen. According to the lawsuit, the chemical is contained in the plywood and particle board used to construct some 102,000 trailer homes provided by FEMA in the wake of the devastating hurricanes of 2005.

Upon moving into their government-provided trailers, the claimants began to experience burning eyes, nosebleeds, headaches, coughing, nausea, sinus infections, and skin rashes, according to the lawsuit. Testing performed by the Sierra Club in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama found that 83 percent of the trailers examined contained levels of formaldehyde well above the Environmental Protection Agency’s acceptable limit.

FEMA maintains that the trailers meet safety standards and that residents can reduce the fumes by opening windows or using air conditioning. FEMA cited testing by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, which showed that formaldehyde levels were apparent, but that the fumes fall within safe levels in days if a trailer is ventilated.

No date has been set for the hearing.