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CDC Makes Progress (Sort of) on Long-Promised Children’s Health Study
Remember that study the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention promised it would do to track the health of children who lived in formaldehyde-contaminated trailers provided to Hurricane Katrina victims?
ProPublica
Joaquin Sapien
March 26, 2009

Hearing details trailer illnesses
Sickened residents blame formaldehyde
Molly Reid
The Times-Picayune
March 5, 2009

'Scrap' FEMA mobile homes return as housing
Units sold at auction turn up in residential parks in Georgia and Missouri
Mike Brunker
MSNBC.com
March 5, 2009

FEMA's "Toxic Bureaucracy"
Are FEMA Managers Holding Up Aid To Hold Onto Their Jobs?
Armen Keteyian
CBS Evening News
February 25, 2009

First trial dates set for FEMA trailer suits
Associated Press
February 10, 2009

Class-Action Status Denied In Hurricane-Housing Suits
Judge Says Complaints Are Too Varied to Allow Single Case Over Toxins in Homes Government Supplied After 2005 Storms
Paulo Prada
The Wall Street Journal
December 30, 2008

FEMA's toxic trailers sold to public as scrap
Eileen Sullivan
Associated Press
November 14, 2008

Katrina's 'toxic trailer legacy'
Robert Walker
BBC Radio World Service
November 13, 2008, 09:06 GMT

FEMA's Formaldehyde Trailer Emails Exposed

From: projectkatrina
November 11, 2007

Formaldehyde found in more FEMA trailers
Joaquin Sapien
ProPublica
October 23, 2008

Report: FEMA trailers exceed formaldehyde levels
Sioux City Journal
October 22, 2008

EDITORIAL: Mum on formaldehyde
The Times-Picayune
October 8, 2008

Fuming over formaldehyde
Mary Engel
Los Angeles Times
October 7, 2008

FEMA Can Be Sued For Trailers
Judge’s Ruling Means Class-Action Suit Is On
Producer Michael Rey
CBS News Investigates
October 6, 2008

Why CDC Responded With ‘Lack of Urgency’ to Formaldehyde Warnings
Joaquin Sapien
Publica, Journalism in the Public Interest
October 5, 2008

Judge: FEMA not immune from toxic trailer suits
MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
Associated Press
October 3, 2008

FEMA's Formaldehyde Woes May Change Particleboard Business
How strict legislation and new technology promise to reduce formaldehyde emissions and keep harmful materials out of American houses.
Harry Sawyers
Popular Mechanics
August 22, 2008

FEMA seeks immunity from suits over trailer fumes
MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
Associated Press
July 22, 2008

How not to respond
Latest revelation about FEMA trailers should trigger a top-to-bottom review
SUN EDITORIAL
Las Vegas Sun
July 14, 2008

FEMA trailers hearing under way in Washington (1:31 min)
Pam Elliot
pam.elliot@wishtv.com
Channel 8: WISH TV
July 09, 2008

Congress names names in FEMA trailer probe
Mike Brunker
MSNBC
July 9, 2008

Trailer Makers On Toxicity
Gulf Stream Coach was given a $522 million contract to supply 50,000 trailers to Hurricane Katrina victims. Three employees tell Armen Keteyian that the company knowingly distributed toxic trailers.
CBS News Video
July 9, 2008

Trailer Graveyards Haunt FEMA, Neighbors
Pam Fessler
NPR: Morning Edition
July 8, 2008

Truckee apartment owner works to clear air
Owner plans new ventilation for Firshman Hollow
Jenny Goldsmith
Sierra Sun
Thursday, July 3, 2008

Toxicity in FEMA Trailers Blamed on Cheap Materials, Low Construction Standards
Spencer S. Hsu
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 3, 2008; Page A03

CDC tests ID sources of fumes in FEMA trailers
MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
Associated Press
Wednesday, July 2, 2008; 5:32 PM

UPDATE 1-Pressed wood released formaldehyde in trailers-CDC
Editing Alan Elsner and Will Dunham
Reuters UK
Wed Jul 2, 2008 9:07pm BST

Mississippi Cottages undergo testing on formaldehyde levels
MEGHA SATYANARAYANA
Sun Herald
June 9, 2008

Family felt like 'lab rats' in FEMA trailer
Medical care runs to 4,000 pages, $10,000
MEGHA SATYANARAYANA
Sun Herald
June 8, 2008

Draft plan: FEMA may use trailers in new disaster
EILEEN SULLIVAN
Washington Associated Press
June 3, 2008

FEMA Director Stepping Down After Hurricane Season
POSTED: 2:48 pm EDT June 2, 2008
UPDATED: 3:51 pm EDT June 2, 2008

Displaced by Katrina and edged out of FEMA trailer parks
Jenny Jarvie
Los Angeles Times
June 1, 2008

A Solution to the Particleboard Problem?
Katherine Salant
Washington Post Page F09
May 31, 2008

Fumes Chase Family Out of FEMA Trailers
Kathy Lohr
NPR Morning Edition
May 29, 2008

Doctors: FEMA Trailer Kids May Have Health Woes

Associated Press
May 28, 2008

FEMA faces lawsuits over 'toxic' trailers
Tom Walker
13 Eyewitness News / WTHR.com
May 27, 2008 06:04 PM

Children in Katrina trailers may face lifelong ailments
JOHN MORENO GONZALES
Associated Press
May 27, 2008

Safety Lapses Raised Risks In Trailers for Katrina Victims
Formaldehyde Found in High Levels; 17,000 Say Homes Caused Illnesses
Spencer S. Hsu
Washington Post
May 25, 2008

White House blocked EPA studies, GAO reports
Zachary Coile
Chronicle Washington Bureau
April 30, 2008

Meet the watchdog who sniffed out FEMA trailer trouble
Rick Jervis
USA TODAY
April 30, 2008

Politics Keeping EPA From Toxin Warnings?
Work On Keeping Americans Safe
CBS News Points At White House For Impeding Scientists
April 28, 2008

Formaldehyde a ticking time bomb says union
scopical.com.au
Scopical Pty Ltd
April 24, 2008

AAN: ALS Linked to Formaldehyde Exposure

Marc Weisskopf, Ph.D., of the Harvard School of Public Health
From: MedPageToday
Added: April 18, 2008

AAN: ALS Linked to Formaldehyde Exposure
John Gever
medpage Today
April 17 2008

Formaldehyde Linked to Lou Gehrig's Disease
HealthDay News
April 16, 2008

EDITORIAL: What FEMA knew
NOLA.com, Everything New Orleans
The Times-Picayune
April 8, 2008

Toxic fears extend beyond Katrina trailers
Ted Evanoff
The Indianapolis Star
USA Today
April 7, 2008

Scientist: CDC Bosses Ignored Warning
BEN EVANS
Associated Press
April 1, 2008

Katrina report slams CDC
Investigators: Agency failed to protect victims from fumes
ALISON YOUNG
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
April 1, 2008

Toxic Trailers Redux: When Did FEMA Know?
Newly found documents show OSHA detected dangerous levels of formaldehyde in trailers used to house Katrina evacuees as early as 2005 - but FEMA mass distributed them anyway.
Deepa Fernandes
Associated Press
March 25, 2008

FEMA trailers deemed unsafe donated to county
STACEY SOLIE
The Standard-Speaker (Hazelton, PA)
March 24, 2008

Dozens of Katrina victims sue FEMA over fumes in trailers
MICHAEL KUNZELMAN,
Associated Press
March 19, 2008

Katrina Victims Still Struggle With Housing Problems
BETTY ANN BOWSER
JIM LEHRER
PBS MacNeil/Lehrer Productions
Originally Aired: March 13, 2008

Documents Feed Debate on FEMA Trailers
MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
Associated Press
Originally Aired: March 12, 2008

Episode Title: Silencing the Scientist, Transcript from Episode 308
Dan Rather
Episode Number: 308
Dan Rather Reports
March 12, 2008

Some trailer brands more toxic, says CDC Gulf Coast probe
MIKE STOBBE
Associated Press
March 3, 2008

Questions still swirling around formaldehyde Why do trailers have such high levels?
JOHN KRUPA
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock)
March 1, 2008

HUD considers stronger rules on air safety in trailers
Concerns follow tests showing high formaldehyde levels in FEMA trailers
Ana Radelat
Clarion-Ledger Washington Bureau
March 1, 2008

CDC airs Katrina issues
JEREMY HARPER
Advocate
February 26, 2008

Home Sick
FEMA and the CDC tell Katrina evacuees living in FEMA trailers that they need to move because their homes could be toxic.
Amanda Spake
Gambit Weekly (New Orleans)
February 26, 2008

FEMA will test trailers at residents' request
The Associated Press State & Local Wire
February 23, 2008 Saturday 10:00 PM GMT

Scientists scrutinize materials used in making FEMA trailers
MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
NEW ORLEANS
The Associated Press State & Local Wire
February 16, 2008

FEMA Hurries Hurricane Survivors Out of Toxic Trailers
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana
Environment News Service (ENS)
February 15, 2008

TRAILERS FAIL: TESTS FORMALDEHYDE LEVELS TOO HIGH
Joshua Norman
Biloxi (MS)
Biloxi (MS) Sun Herald
February 15, 2008

FEMA homes ‘unsafe,’ litigant warns
John Krupa
Little Rock, AR
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette / Arkansas Online
February 14, 2008

Hurricane Victims Should Leave Toxic Trailers, CDC Says
PBS News Hour
February 14, 2008

Lawsuits allege FEMA mishandled trailers
Peter Page
National Law Journal
February 11, 2008

CDC under investigation over Katrina cancer risk
Congressional committee also looks into whether agency retaliated against scientist
ALISON YOUNG
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
February 9, 2008

CDC Suppressed Toxic Trailer Warnings
CBS News: Agency Suppressed Repeated Warnings From Top Scientist About Formaldehyde Fume Dangers
CBS News
January 28, 2008

FEMA’s delays stir memories of Katrina
New Orleans
The Associated Press / The Natchez Democrat
December 24, 2007

Toxic gas in FEMA units, tests show
Nearly all trailers, mobile homes exceed long-term formaldehyde standard
Mike Brunker
MSNBC.com
November 12, 2007

FEMA trailer saga continues as residents sue manufacturers
Rebecca Porter
American Assocation for Justice
November 1, 2007

FEMA faces complaints of toxic trailers
Gannet News Service
Washington
St. Cloud Times
September 1, 2007

FEMA to curtail trailer use, offers buyback proposal
Agency sold roughly 1,200 units per week from surplus stock
Ana Radelat
Washington
The Clairon-Ledger (Jackson, MS)
August 10, 2007

Lawsuit Filed Over FEMA Trailers
Pam Elliot
Indianapolis, IN
WISH TV News
August 9, 2007

Lawsuit targets makers of trailers
Chemical causing illness, residents say
Susan Finch
New Orleans
Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
August 9, 2007

Local RV manufacturers are facing a class-action lawsuit
Leanne Tokers
South Bend, IN
WSBT News
August 9, 2007

Makers of Katrina Trailers Sued
Debra Cassens Weiss
ABA Journal
August 9, 2007

Storm Survivors Sue FEMA Trailer Makers Over Toxic Claims
New Orleans
Wall Street Journal Online / Dow Jones Newswires
August 8, 2007

Suit claims trailer makers exposed storm victims to formaldehyde
Michael Kinzelman
New Orleans
The Associated Press
August 8, 2007

Formaldehyde Fumes Felt in Indiana
Armen Keteyian and Michael Rey
CBS News
May 16, 2007, 8:16 PM

Are FEMA Trailers Making Residents Sick?
CBS News: Homes For Those Displaced By Katrina Can Contain High Toxin Levels
CBS News Investigates
CBS News
BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss.
May 16, 2007, 8:16 PM

 
 Press Reports
 Case Documents
 Government Investigation
 Counsel Press Releases
 Claim Office Contact Info
 FAQ

Symptoms of Formaldehyde Exposure:

Asthma Attacks
Blurred Vision
Eye irritiation
Shortness of Breath
Sinus Infections
Skin rashes
Coughing
Dizziness
Headaches
Nausea
Nosebleeds
Wheezing
Formaldehyde has been classified as a human carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

What is Formaldehyde?

Formaldehyde is an important industrial chemical used to make other chemicals, building materials, and household products. It is one of the large family of chemical compounds called volatile organic compounds or 'VOCs'. The term volatile means that the compounds vaporize, that is, become a gas, at normal room temperatures.

What are the short-term health effects of formaldehyde exposure?

When formaldehyde is present in the air at levels exceeding 0.1 ppm, some individuals may experience health effects such as watery eyes; burning sensations of the eyes, nose, and throat; coughing; wheezing; nausea; and skin irritation. Some people are very sensitive to formaldehyde, while others have no reaction to the same level of exposure.

Can formaldehyde cause cancer?


Although the short-term health effects of formaldehyde exposure are well known, less is known about its potential long-term health effects. In 1980, laboratory studies showed that exposure to formaldehyde could cause nasal cancer in rats. This finding raised the question of whether formaldehyde exposure could also cause cancer in humans. In 1987, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified formaldehyde as a probable human carcinogen under conditions of unusually high or prolonged exposure (1). Since that time, some studies of industrial workers have suggested that formaldehyde exposure is associated with nasal cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer, and possibly with leukemia. In 1995, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that formaldehyde is a probable human carcinogen. However, in a reevaluation of existing data in June 2004, the IARC reclassified formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen (2).

How is the general population exposed to formaldehyde?

According to a 1997 report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, formaldehyde is normally present in both indoor and outdoor air at low levels, usually less than 0.03 parts of formaldehyde per million parts of air (ppm). Materials containing formaldehyde can release formaldehyde gas or vapor into the air. Formaldehyde can also be released by burning wood, kerosene, natural gas, or cigarettes; through automobile emissions; or from natural processes.

During the 1970s, urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) was used in many homes. However, few homes are now insulated with UFFI. Homes in which UFFI was installed many years ago are not likely to have high formaldehyde levels now. Pressed wood products containing formaldehyde resins are often a significant source of formaldehyde in homes. Other potential indoor sources of formaldehyde include cigarette smoke and the use of unvented, fuel-burning appliances such as gas stoves, wood-burning stoves, and kerosene heaters.

Industrial workers who produce formaldehyde or formaldehyde-containing products, laboratory technicians, health care professionals, and mortuary employees may be exposed to higher levels of formaldehyde than the general public. Exposure occurs primarily by inhaling formaldehyde gas or vapor from the air or by absorbing liquids containing formaldehyde through the skin.

Where can people find more information about formaldehyde?

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has information about household products that contain formaldehyde. The CPSC can be contacted at:

Address: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
4330 East-West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814–4408
Telephone: 1–800–638–CPSC (1–800–638–2772)
TTY: 1–800–638–8270
E-mail: info@cpsc.gov
Web site: http://www.cpsc.gov

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains information about cosmetics and drugs that contain formaldehyde. The FDA can be contacted at:

Address: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857–0001
Telephone: 1–888–INFO–FDA (1–888–463–6332)
Web site: http://www.fda.gov

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