Late in February, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) published their interim findings after having tested hurricane relief trailers for formaldehyde. Probably to the chagrin of manufacturers, the CDC did not spare naming the builders of rigs tested, along with results of that testing.
Among the manufacturers whose rigs showed the highest concentrations of formaldehyde are these: Gulf Stream, Keystone, Pilgrim, and Forest River. According to the reports, testing indicated RVs from these companies had no less than four times the amount of formaldehyde gas emmissions than a newly built ’sticks and bricks’ home. In some cases the formaldehyde ranged far higher.
Industry trade magazine,
This entry was posted on Friday, March 7th, 2008 at 1:03 pm and is filed under FEMA, formaldehyde, general, toxic trailers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
We have a Keystone Springdale. Does this trailer have an unhealthy environment? Is there anything we can do, such as airing out? And if we do, is it unhealthy again when it is closed up? I am real concerned about the health issues.
Thank you,
Sandy
Sandy:
Every trailer is going to be different. Here’s a website that you can get more information on how to test your trailer if you’re concerned: http://www.toxictrailers.com/ This is not the only web site, nor necessarily “the best.” I’d be most concerned if you’re experiencing health problems since you’ve moved into your rig.
Thank you, Russ and Tina, for your information. The only thing I observed last summer, which was our first season to use the trailer (brand new), was eyes being blurry. I will definitely pay more attention to it this season and make sure we are aired out the best we can. It’s a shame that we spend so much on these trailers for enjoyment and then find out it can be causing health problems. I guess I will send away for a formaldehyde test kit. Thank you again.