Comments on: Did Trailer Makers Know About Toxic Fumes?

Exclusive: Workers Who Made FEMA Trailers Say Manufacturer Knew About Harmful Formaldehyde

[docpeter-2009]

Posted by juwboy at 05:12 AM : Jul 09, 2008, "I wonder if the residents of these trailers breathed as much formaldehyde as perfectly healthy people who are exposed to formaldehyde daily, such as embalmers, pathologists and medical/biological researchers.

Are their symptoms real or compensation-induced?"
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Actually, probably a little of both. You would have to consider that many/most/all of these people were indigent, and therefore, were probably in poor to very poor health prior to occupying these trailers. If say they had signifcant kidney, liver, or lung damage prior to occupying the trailers then they had less healthy organs to begin with. Therefore even minimal assault could lead to significant further damage.

[docpeter-2009]

The "...people who worked on the trailer production lines and say the manufacturers knew they had a formaldehyde problem."

But the decided What the he11, we are selling these to the USA govt.

[antoniof123]

I see an immunity deal in the works.

[sidvicious62]

Hey, if ya think hurricane victims got it bad, wait till ya see janitors. And them ''industrial strength cleaners''.

[debb754]

Having worked during the 70s & 80s in a factory that supplied wall paneling to the travel trailer industry, I will tell you that formaldehyde fumes are truly a problem. On Monday mornings when we''d walk into our 1/4 million sq. ft. building (about 25% full of paneling) our eyes would water and breathing would be difficult. Formaldehyde-free paneling was available, but at a much higher cost.

In reading these posts I have one last comment. Maybe you racists who think these complaints are untrue should learn more about situations before you speak. Although, with your ignorance, it probably won''t happen. (And before you wonder, I am a white, upper-middle class woman.)

[mich5491]

In 1980, we purchased a new mobile home which had formaldehyde so bad it caused medical problems. The point is that formaldehyde issues have been known by the industry and the government for at least 28 years and nothing has been done to regulate it. For the RV and mobile home industry, it must be the easiest, lowest cost insulation available. Seems like there could have been a class action lawsuit on behalf of the thousands of people who have suffered temporary or chronic health issues because of formaldehyde.

[platteman]

Wonder why no one in Iowa blamed Bush for the flood and levie breaking. We saw no riots over the flood there, no one got cards to go buy whatever they wanted, the people just thanked FEMA and went on about their lives.

What part of this picture don''t people get?
No riots, no blame, no civil disobedience, just thanks that they were alive.

[ahrats]

The formaldehyde problem will dissapear over time in the trailers. It''s probally from most of the particle board used for flooring and cabinetry and the product just came from the factory due time constraints. These same trailers are probally much safer now then when they were constructed. You have similar problems with new carpet.Indoor air quality has been a concern for years due to tight buildings, no more leaky windows and doors, the new smell from housing or cars may not be good for you depending from what materials its comming from.

[juwboy]

I wonder if the residents of these trailers breathed as much formaldehyde as perfectly healthy people who are exposed to formaldehyde daily, such as embalmers, pathologists and medical/biological researchers.

Are their symptoms real or compensation-induced?

One of my favorite stories was published in Chemical and Engineering News about 20 years ago. Employees in a Midwest City Hall were warned that a section of their building was going to be repainted on a certain date so it was possible they`d be exposed to solvent fumes.

On the day in question, numerous employees in the city`s LEGAL department complained of a plethora of symptoms such as headaches, coughs, watery eyes combined with general debilitation and fatigue.

Unfortunately for them, the repainting had been postponed to a later date!

[clew37]

Whatever you think about the people who had to live in these trailers, their kids didn''t deserve to be gassed. Most of these people didn''t stand a chance in life without a hurricane. Bad nutrition, bad homelife, bad schools, bad housing. Being ignorant and poor shouldn''t mean you always get the short end of the stick, but it often does. With gas and pharmacutical prices the way they are, many of us might end up in trailers too.

[oneworldusa]

So, what about the supplier of the formaldehyde ridden products? If harmful products weren''t available, they couldn''t have been used.

[harpoot]

Had to be another Bushit no-bid contract. Max profits and to hell with the end user.

[cbsfan73]

"AHHHH, there''''s the rub; "FORMER" employees! gotta wonder why they are FORMER, and then how much weight to give to claims by FIRED, angry, ex employees. NONE called OSHA or made any formal complaints BEFORE?"
Posted by Newster1

Who said they were fired? The reporter said the whole building was shuttered...

[nothappyatall]

people who worked on the trailer production lines and say the manufacturers knew they had a formaldehyde problem."

DUH! we all knew that, ALL that pressboard, insulation, particleboard etc are made with glues that contain formaldehyde- that''s been in the news and on caution labels for years.
That "revelation" is lok telling us there''s mercury in amalgum fillings!


"That%u2019s a pace, former employees say, that"

AHHHH, there''s the rub; "FORMER" employees! gotta wonder why they are FORMER, and then how much weight to give to claims by FIRED, angry, ex employees. NONE called OSHA or made any formal complaints BEFORE?


"Opening the windows, doors and ceiling vents clears the problem in a matter of minutes. "

And when it''s 100 degrees and 100% humidity?

Travel trailers are for VACATION TRIPS, not full time residences! not only do they have almost no insulation but they have always been flimsy cheap krap. There are some models that are built on frames that before you add water and supplies or people are already over the weight rating for the frame.

[mrbrill]

The company put profits above the safety of the trailers'' occupants but also above the safety of their own employees. Why are companies allowed to do this? There should be criminal charges here.

[cbsfan73]

Let''s put the blame where it belongs - on government officials. Once again they have failed in their duties. They have known since the 70''s that formaldehyde is very harmful to a person''s health and have did nothing about it.

Either they are getting their pockets padded by those in the industry or simply do not care about American citizens. Probably both.

[lovesamerica]

I believe that plenty of white people got trailers too. Maybe just fewer of them took up permanent residency

[lovesamerica]

It was a disaster!!!! No one knew what to do! the people were helped out for what was supposed to be a short time,not helping themselves is what caused any illnesses. Maybe you can take a bunch of folks into your home after the next disaster requiring government help.

[randynason]

The company that made them knew. The government knew and did nothing after finding out about it. Both are guilty and have tried to weasel out of their responsibility since all this news has come to light. Tell me again the silly notion that we are supposed to show respect for our government, when it does nothing to earn that respect.

[lovesamerica]

I guess the next time something of this magnitude happens everyone should just fend for themselves and find a box to live in