CDC Suppressed Toxic Trailer Warnings
CBS News: Agency Suppressed Repeated Warnings From Top Scientist About Formaldehyde Fume Dangers
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CDC Implicated In FEMA Scandal
FEMA is under fire for downplaying the health risk of formaldehyde exposure in its travel trailers. Armen Keteyian reports the public-health scandal has implicated the Centers For Disease Control.
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After Hurricane Katrina, more than 143,000 families lived in toxic FEMA trailers like these. (CBS)
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After Hurricane Katrina, FEMA trailers lined streets in New Orleans. (AFP/Getty Images)
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Rep. Bernie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said about FEMA, CDC and the toxic trailers: "To not do its due diligence on this issue borders on malfeasance." (CBS)
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More than 143,000 families, like this one, have lived in the formaldehyde-contaminated FEMA trailers. (CBS)
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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.
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See all 71 CommentsComment: 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
Thanks.
Veronica I cannot breath.
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/B/excipient-table-1.pdf
Ahhhh...now we know where all of the out-of-work tobacco spokespersons found employment!
Veronica I cannot breath
"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
Posted by ToniaCitizen"
Thanks for telling us... FIVE FREAKING TIMES!!
We GET it already!! You only need to press the ''publish'' button ONCE.
M.Dunnigan, Washington State
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.
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.
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?
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 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!
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?
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!!
"What does THIS have to do with what happened here?"
Maybe nothing, maybe everything.
It''s supplementary information.
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.
Join them at
http://www.FluorideAction.Net/congress
Jesus, give it a rest...
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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!!
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...
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.
What happened to real investigative reporting over the past 10 years?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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