CDC Suppressed Toxic Trailer Warnings

CBS News: Agency Suppressed Repeated Warnings From Top Scientist About Formaldehyde Fume Dangers

(CBS)  As CBS News first reported last spring, FEMA has been under heavy fire for failing to acknowledge then adequately address health problems like respiratory illness associated with the toxic chemical formaldehyde found in travel trailers that became home for hundreds of thousands of survivors of Hurricane Katrina. More than 143,000 families have lived in the toxic trailers, and more than 40,000 still do.

Now, CBS News has learned, the public health fiasco reaches beyond FEMA - into the one of the nation's most respected agencies.

---

CBS News has learned that the Centers for Disease Control, the nation's top public health agency, suppressed repeated warnings from one of its top scientists, raising questions about whether the CDC bowed to pressure from FEMA to conceal the long-term health risks of formaldehyde in the trailers it distributed to hurricane victims - health risks like cancer and birth defects, CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports.

A string of internal documents obtained exclusively by CBS News reveal that Dr. Christopher De Rosa, director of the CDC's Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, told his superiors "there is no safe level of exposure" to formaldehyde in trailers. That warning never made its way into any public report about the trailers.

In addition, Dr. De Rosa wrote in an email that two of his staff members had been directed by FEMA officials to not "address longer term health effects" of formaldehyde in this February 2007 report.

"To not do its due diligence on this issue borders on malfeasance," said Rep. Bernie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.

In fact, it wasn't until October 2007 - after eight months and pressure from congressional investigators that the CDC revised its February report and finally issued warnings about cancer and other long-term health risks of formaldehyde.

"For them to punt on this issue does not speak well for them as an agency," Thompson said.

De Rosa refused an on-camera interview with CBS News. The CDC did not comment on the documents, but said it changed the report after it realized there was a problem.

[readrk]

question: Were these trailer purchased from exisitng supplies or were they built especially for Katrina, et al?

Comment: If they are normal inventory, that would mean that all people who have used these (feds, recreational users, etc) are affected by the same formaldehyde? RAY READ

[pilgrimsway-2009]

The Muslims are chanting!!!!!! For the person who might be in office!

[veronica252]

I too live in a trailor not one of FEMa''s. I brought this trailor in 2002.I open an package of supportive paper that came with the home and the paper states: Important health notice: Some of the building materials used in this home EMIT formaldehyde. Eye, nose, and throat irritation, headache, nausea, and a variety of Asthma like symptoms, including shortness of breath have bee reported as a result of formaldehyde exposure. Yes, I found this information in a folder 6 months after buying this home. now, I''m sick with Asthma and now my daughter has develop lung problems. Help.

Thanks.
Veronica I cannot breath.

[uscitizenvet]

From actual experience, "Fleetwood" R/V manufacturer "WARNS" with a printed label inside their R/V''s that the R/V is only meant for occassional use and the "Formaldehyde" can be a respiratory problem for occupants. This is a widely known fact for those that use R/V''s and is also quite common in "mobile homes".

[garbosmed]

What a shock -- the CDC covering up a public health concern. Ho hum! This pales in comparison to what they''ve done with the dangers of vaccines. Heads are gonna roll when that one comes out. And it will come out...it always does.

[garbosmed]

And given that formaldehyde has such terrible toxic environmental and health effects, maybe someone should find out why it''s an ingredient in the vaccines we are injecting into children every day:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/B/excipient-table-1.pdf

[flreason]

%u201CAll of the available and still-emerging human health research data is demonstrating that if formaldehyde exposure is kept below levels that produce chronic irritation and overt target tissue damage, the risk of cancer is essentially zero,%u201D according to the Formaldehyde Council, an industry group. (MSNBC Special Report, 7/25/06)

Ahhhh...now we know where all of the out-of-work tobacco spokespersons found employment!

[veronica252]

are there any comments on my topic?

Veronica I cannot breath

[feelfree1]

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."-GWB

[nothappyatall]

As far back as 1989, I knew a woman who nearly died of one mysterious and sudden physical ailment...
Posted by ToniaCitizen"

Thanks for telling us... FIVE FREAKING TIMES!!
We GET it already!! You only need to press the ''publish'' button ONCE.

[barbaraf4]

While there is no excuse for allowing the formaldehyde poisoning to continue, I''d like to point out that FEMA trailers were supposed to be emergency housing. They were never intended to be permanent housing. FEMA should have never been absorbed into Homeland Security. Now it is just another inept, corrupt office of this administration.

[seahawk224]

Reguarding your report on FEMA toxic trailers. In the news cast I see a lot of well know trailer brands. Why is it that only the trailers or RVs sent for Katrina homeless use have toxic problems and not all of the trailer or RVs used today by millions of RV users do not have a toxic problem? Why haven''t the RV and trailer industry spoke up reguarding this issue? Should all of millions of Rv''rs be concerned out this?
M.Dunnigan, Washington State

[djayed]

The CDC go with the same political agenda as the rest of the government. That''s why *** cant give blood but no where on the sheet asks the person donating if the have unprotected ***.

Thanks for telling us... FIVE FREAKING TIMES!!
We GET it already!! You only need to press the ''''publish'''' button ONCE.
==
Don''t blame the poor newbie. Blame the CBS web staff who won''t fix the problem.

[three-o-six]

Everyone is all fired up about formaldehyde in the FEMA trailers but NO ONE is talking about the fact that formaldehyde is a by-product of burning alcohol in internal combustion engines. EPA is aware of it and has written papers about it -- yet no one seems concerned that we may be trading one polution for something worse in the name of freedom from oil.

[garbosmed]

If this article is supposed to be exposing wrongdoing, WHY O WHY does it mention that the information was suppressed without naming the person or persons who did the suppressing? Why not name the supervisor, or whoever was in charge of information going public? Sure hope there''s a more in-depth follow up planned.

[runningralph]

As bad as the whine level is here, it would have been worse if FEMA had not sent the trailers out. Lots of people live in trailers with no health problems. This is another attempt to put the squeeze on taxpayers.

[beaudreaux1]

I live in a FEMA trailer - they are blowing our money right and left - sending 3 people out to check it in 2 vehicles - what a waste. When I asked them what they were going to do with the trailers they said (and I have it recorded) they were going to clean them up and put others in them. They promised me I could purchase it - but they have lied again and again. Can''t trust them in any way or fashion!!! They are all a bunch of liers and cheats!!!!! I finally kicked them off of my property - I had rather live under a bridge than have to deal with their lies!

[beaudreaux1]

Besides, if the levels are too high - why isn''t anyone saying anything about the companies that built them. Shouldn''t they be held responsible for using toxic materials. And what about the employees of these companies that were breathing the fumes on a daily bases while building these units?

[erasmus6]

Those Fema trailers were only meant to be used temporarily until people got jobs and back on their feet. There shouldn''t be anyone still using them. Everyone should have gotten a job by now and moved out. What''s the hold up?

Also, there is formaldehyde in laminate flooring.

[brianbwb-2009]

"What''''s the hold up? Also, there is formaldehyde in laminate flooring."
Posted by erasmus6

Perhaps the fact that there no jobs to get that pay enough for them to move out?

Formaldehyde is sprayed on stuff so it won''t rot, even if you do because of it. They should have not used particle board (vegetable fiber) bonded with wood glue, (made from stale milk) because it does rot rather quickly, necessitating use of decay retardants.

Carbon fiber materials need no such treatment, and should have been the material of choice.

[skyk-2009]

Those Fema trailers were only meant to be used temporarily until people got jobs and back on their feet. There shouldn''''t be anyone still using them. Everyone should have gotten a job by now and moved out. What''''s the hold up?

Also, there is formaldehyde in laminate flooring.

Posted by erasmus6 at 03:11 AM : Jan 29, 2008
+ report abuse

I sometimes think your Neocon''s would repeat just about any excuse handed you. The issue is NOT about these folks getting a job and moving out. The issue you poor simple minded soul is the surpression by the Bush Administration of someone we HIRED to do a job. The issue is failure, yet again, of people who are SUPPOSED to provide WE the PEOPLE with information about the way our government functions. For some reason you Bush Cultist never seem to care about this nation or it''s people. It''s all about protecting the Party and it''s leader. What excuse do you have for the CDC doing what it did to this doctor? What excuse do you have for KEEPING that information SECRET and not allowing WE the PEOPLE to know what''s going on?

[juwboy]

Thousands of employees are exposed to formaldehyde fumes on a daily basis without experiencing any of the harmful effects described in the report.

These include:

Persons engaged in the manufacture of a variety of products, including those mentioned in the report and in this Comment string.

Embalmers and taxidermists.

A variety of workers in the fields of biology and medicine.

[skyk-2009]

Yes, it is called MDF and Formaldehyde is used like glue to hold what amounts to sawdust and trash together. Just about any new home has some form of MDF used in the house. Typically, baseboard, door and window casing are made of MDF.



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Posted by curse914 at 10:58 PM : Jan 28, 2008
+ report abuse

Yes but IF not used properly and in a proper setting it''s also DEADLY! That''s why the Doctor was there and that''s why the CDC exist!

[bugnanny]

There is formaldehyde in all new clothing , carpet and textile in the USA. Where''s the beef when it came to new Louis Viton purses that were being bought with Hurricaine Katrina money? I look back at the films of the looting that took place during the Hurricaine Katrina ordeal, where did the people put the new stereo''s and tv''s they stole? In the Fema trailors? Some people are downright ungrateful for what they got and have nothing better to do that milk everything they can instead of lifting a finger to repay what they were given. Has anybody ever paid any rent on the trailors? Or did the government give them that for free too? The IRS allowed them to milk the tax laws for years too. The people in Texas lived in tents opened to the flying pests and they honestly showed compassion for their brethern not a huge extended hand.

[skyk-2009]

Thousands of employees are exposed to formaldehyde fumes on a daily basis without experiencing any of the harmful effects described in the report.

These include:

Persons engaged in the manufacture of a variety of products, including those mentioned in the report and in this Comment string.

Embalmers and taxidermists.

A variety of workers in the fields of biology and medicine.



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Posted by juwboy at 05:04 AM : Jan 29, 2008
+ report abuse

SO??? What does THIS have to do with what happened here?

[skyk-2009]

Posted by bugnanny

Let me see here.. NOW you are saying because YOU don''t see any problem with this Chemical it''s okay to surpress information and to keep secret the findings of people who are HIRED and are supposed to PROTECT the public from harm? How bad does it get for you Bush Cultist? How far will you go to protect actions like this? Bush and his Administration had NO RIGHT to deny this information to the people of this nation or the people living in those Trailers... NONE!! There is NO excuse for what happened... NONE!!

[bugnanny]

I smell frivolous lawsuits. A good redneck would have hotwired those school buses and got out of the disaster, maybe they could have set up some make shift sleeping quarters out of them and maybe even build them a showerhouse. Oh, why did they not just open the windows and air them out? Would it have interfered in their AC? This was a fleecing of America. By the way I wish I had a real Louis Vitton.

[bugnanny]

Doea anybody buy new clothing in here? Did you wash it to remove the formaldehyde? Did you really purchase a bling necklace for your kid that was made in China, oh by the way it had lead in it, so when that kid puts in in their mouth the American taxpayers can pay for the mental retardation that is eminent all the days of their life.

[juwboy]

skyk (at 5.06AM) said:

"What does THIS have to do with what happened here?"

Maybe nothing, maybe everything.

It''s supplementary information.

[demslie]

I cannot believe it. There is actually someone like bugnanny who is smart enough to realize that this whole situation is the product of product liability lawyers like the Trial Lawyers Association who is the biggest single contributor to the Democratic National Committee. These Lawyers always find a consiracy around every conner to make a jury of liberals award Billions because of the bad old rich companies or the bad old government. Remember, these are the people who are going to run the country. Better move to China.

[runningralph]

demslie,
You might have something about moving to China. I have a relative who has moved to China. He married a Chinese woman- pretty, nice looking, well mannered lady. He has found employment there, but I believe he was in pretty good financial shape before he went there. Before he went he was a teacher and computer expert. He seems to be doing well. But I hear he is looking to but property in the US. Maybe he''ll be coming back. He could take advantage of the lower real estate values in the US.

[fstop100]

makes us all proud to e Americans

[nyscof]

The CDC is guilty of many unscientific but politically expedient claims. Over 3500 Professionals are urging Congressing hearings to look into why the CDC''s oral health section continues to ingnore the science which shows fluoridation is ineffective and harmful to health.

Join them at
http://www.FluorideAction.Net/congress

[macusweil]

Bush lied.. people died or in this case got very sick. Disgusting!

[wogerwabbit]

More evidence of the vast left wing conspiracy carried out by right wing hacks. I''m so confused.

[offtheback]

Posted by ToniaCitizen

Jesus, give it a rest...

[mcvet]

I cannot believe it. There is actually someone like bugnanny who is smart enough to realize that this whole situation is the product of product liability lawyers like the Trial Lawyers Association who is the biggest single contributor to the Democratic National Committee. These Lawyers always find a consiracy around every conner to make a jury of liberals award Billions because of the bad old rich companies or the bad old government. Remember, these are the people who are going to run the country. Better move to China.


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Posted by demslie at 07:22 AM : Jan 29, 2008
+ report abuse

So let me see if I understand you Nazi''s, you are SO hard to figure out. What you are saying is that YOU and the "PARTY" will decide what We the People can and can not accesss the courts for? Yeah right! Take your swastika off in a corner somewhere I want NO PART of it. Sieg Heil Bush!!

It''s business as usual for the CDC. They follow the great example set by the FDA. This is old news and how business is done with these agency.

[inventagod]

Follow the money.
A fascist government will protect the business that supplied the trailer, rather than the consumer who has to use the product.
I smell the stench of the good-ol-boy in our FEMA...

[lswonder]

The reason I don''t surf the net much is because of the unbelievably mean and stupid people who do. The marketplace of ideas should have nicer and more intelligent sellers. lswonder

[runningralph]

McVET,
How DID this info get out? According to you, the coup has already taken place. Bush has total control over everything, and there will be no election. Could it be that the president is just one elected official trying to do his job the best he can with whatever means he has at his disposal? Maybe he doesn''t really have control over everything all the time.

[mlkoncbs]

I''m so glad CBS is reporting this story. But where was the press when this was happening? Pandering to the administration, I assume.

What happened to real investigative reporting over the past 10 years?

[antoniof123]

The CDC did not comment on the documents, but said it changed the report after it realized there was a problem.

It changed the reports because it the CDC got caught. Just like everything these last few years lie about it then when you get caught say you don''t remember and then change the report then blame Bill Clinton. You nazis are on your last leg this year, so I except you will take as many down with you as possible. Just like MaCarthy era, good luck and good night.

[offtheback]

I cannot believe it. There is actually someone like bugnanny who is smart enough to realize that this whole situation is the product of product liability lawyers like the Trial Lawyers Association who is the biggest single contributor to the Democratic National Committee. These Lawyers always find a consiracy around every conner to make a jury of liberals award Billions because of the bad old rich companies or the bad old government. Remember, these are the people who are going to run the country. Better move to China.

Posted by demslie

Got news you don''t have to look sround the corner for the conspiracy to defraud the American people out of every last tax dollar we have. IT''S IN YOUR FACE EVERY DAY.

[labettis]

Thank you CBS News for reporting on this. Exposing information like this to the public is important in revealing corruption and deceit and holding people accountable for their actions. Without our news media, there would be a lot more "foxes guarding the henhouse" and getting away with it.

[bobnjersey]

["To not do its due diligence on this issue borders on malfeasance," said Rep. Bernie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. ]

it''s nowhere near the border ... it''s a mile over it. outright misrepresentation and deception is what this is ... and it''s consistent w/ the overall strategy of this administration for pretty much everything they do.

[glaswolf]

FloydZepp: Don''t put too much hydrogen in your mental Zepplin ... We don''t speak England''s English here in America, particularly not in the United States. We are NOT Nazi German''s so ... First: Americans Anglocize pronunciation; I don''t mean listen to the English Saxon allied mutants twist the language into a drawn out garble, WE (Comanches) standardize the pronuciation of the phonetics in the style of the Aztec "trade languages" to facilitate comprehension as supposed to stroke Queenly musings thru the hinges of an iron maiden. Second: American English definitions are taken from context as WE (Continental Indians, both Americas) have no center. So, You view Ju*Boy as ignorant, We would view HydrogenBoy as stupid. Think American Content not English Form, as maning must fit context in communication ... it''s not a rock fight.

[glaswolf]

CDC has a database from Vietnam of highly awarded and commended soldiers who failed drug tests exiting ''Nam, both heroin and marijuana were involved. This data has been systematically suppressed by the CDC trying to float fraudulent DEA reputations drowning in perjury. Interesting, after 30 years, old conspiracies persist. WE need a thorough purge of government agency managements. We have seen the 2nd''s of the FBI, the Vice Presidency, and the Presidency betray American trust. WE have found countless disregarding of the spirit of law and national security by the embedded Israelis AIPAC to Pollard, total overlooking of endemic pedophilia among the Nazi Pope''s homosexual priesthood for decades, wholesale embezzlement of religious funds by evangelicals, sidestepping of AMerican Intelligence Systems to pay homage to foreign sources which is treason, and the deindustrialization of the United States while playing up the new service economy which is cascading into eoncomic failure across the world. The CDC needs on serious analysis of their decision making plumbing, topologically speaking, as do others trusted with American wellbeing. Hypocrisy relative to physical causal reality is a bane to civilization and nationalizm.

[rf35]

Any credibility the CDC had with me is now gone. Guess these guys are just as corrupt at FEMA and the rest of the administration.

Some posters do raise a valid point: why ARE people still in the FEMA trailers? These were meant as temporary shelter until permanent arrangements could be made. I would imagine some of the blame goes back to FEMA and the government for not providing timely and proper assistance. However, at least some responsibility for rebuilding one%u2019s life has to go to the individual. They need to do their part. My in-laws had to demand the government help they needed after the OKC ice storms this winter. Now that they have gotten that help and put it to its intended use, they have removed their mouths from the taxpayers%u2019 collective teat and are back to business as usual. Even given the more extensive damage in New Orleans, it still should not take this long if real effort is being made.