February 29, 2008
Summary
This interim report of a CDC study provides information about formaldehyde levels in a random sample of FEMA-supplied occupied travel trailers, park models, and mobile homes still being used as of December 2007 and January 2008 as temporary shelter for residents of the U.S. Gulf Coast region displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Additional analyses on this study; and additional peer review of the study, its results, and conclusions; are ongoing. A final report on this study will be published in the spring 2008. In addition, other studies related to the health of persons displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and to formaldehyde levels in travel trailers, park models, and mobile homes are ongoing. However, this interim report suggests that formaldehyde levels in many of the travel trailers, park models, and mobile homes (geometric mean 77 parts per billion [ppb] across all types with many levels higher than this average) are higher than typical U.S. background levels (e.g., approximately 10-30 ppb in indoor air). Therefore, actions should be taken now to limit further exposures to residents. (For specific information, see the report sections below on recommendations to residents and recommendations to public officials).
 
Background: 
From December 21, 2007, to January 23, 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted testing to assess levels of formaldehyde in indoor air of a random sample of occupied travel trailers, park models, and mobile homes supplied by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as temporary housing for residents of the U.S. Gulf Coast region displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The testing was one of several actions CDC initiated in response to a request from FEMA on July 13, 2007; to investigate concerns about formaldehyde in occupied FEMA-supplied travel trailers, park models, and mobile homes in Louisiana and Mississippi.
 
Objectives:
 The objectives of this study were:
 
1. To determine formaldehyde levels in occupied travel trailers, park models, and mobile homes.
 
2. To determine factors or characteristics of occupied travel trailers, park models, and mobile homes that could affect formaldehyde measurements.
 
3. To provide information to assist FEMA in making decisions about when and how to relocate residents from these FEMA-supplied travel trailers, park models, and mobile homes still used in the Gulf Coast area.
 
It is also important to understand that this study does not address the following:
 
1. The results should not be applied to travel trailers, park models, or mobile homes purchased and used in other places and situations because the sample for this study was selected only from FEMA-supplied travel trailers, park models, and mobile homes used in the Gulf Coast region. Other travel trailers, park models, and mobile homes used elsewhere could differ based on their age, the characteristics of their manufacture, the circumstances of their use, or the characteristics of their environment.
 
2. This is a study of formaldehyde levels, and as such does not assess the health status of persons currently living in FEMA-supplied travel trailers, park models, and mobile homes.
 
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehhe/trailerstudy/pdfs/Interim%20Findings%20on%20Formaldehyde%20Levels%20in%20FEMA-Supplied%20-%20Final%20-%202-29.pdf
 
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