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Toxic Trailers
But that response was too little, too late in the minds of many area politicians. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi, chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, was incensed and issued this statement on Thursday: "After over a year of sitting on their hands, the Bush administration has finally provided clear and accurate information to trailer occupants about the potential risks of formaldehyde to their health. It is simply unacceptable that the administration allowed trailer occupants to be exposed to these health risks at all, let alone for years."
Down here in Carrollton, folks struggled to figure out how to handle this latest twist in the long, weary journey home. The news confirmed their worst fears. But many will not find it easy to uproot yet again, and relocate to the unknown.
Ceolia Brown spent Friday afternoon in her toxic abode, catching up with a girlfriend. It was raining outside, so she kept the windows shut tight, despite the dangers, the dampness still somehow managing to find its way in. The trailer is neat and well-organized, but four people are hard-pressed to array themselves inside without touching. The family's belongings are crammed beneath benches that convert into beds. The trailer is parked just yards from the front door of their storm-damaged home. From here, they can keep watch, and guard against those who might break in to their old residence. Ceolia has heard the latest news; FEMA is moving people out of the trailers and into hotels and apartments. But the agency has not contacted her directly. She is wary of leaving; but the health risks frighten her. For now, she's staying put. "I guess we have no choice," she says, looking around the trailer sadly.
Elsewhere in the city, the boosters are trying not to let word of the formaldehyde problem crush the spirit of renewal. The NBA is in town for its All-Star game this weekend, and has co-sponsored the rehab of several houses on Lizardi Street. Kristin Gisleson Palmer, director of Rebuilding Together New Orleans, a venerable community-service group, warns against dwelling on the toxic trailers issue. Residents here "are old," she says, as basketball players wield paintbrushes behind her. "They don't need to be scared."
Sidney Davis, a 67-year-old former Merchant Marine, is doing his best not to be. He's spent his whole life here in the Lower Ninth Ward, and he is not anxious to move away from family and friends. He and his cousin rode out the storm together, and were taken by boat to the Superdome when the levies broke. They were shipped out to Texas, but started making their way back as soon as they could; both were back in the ward in FEMA trailers by December 2005. He began hearing tales of trouble early on. "FEMA knew, too, but they just ignored it," he says. Asked about relocating, Davis just shakes his head. "Where could you go to rent? The prices around here are sky high. So we are stuck." But he has high-blood pressure and diabetes, and FEMA's Paulison has said he wants to move the elderly and most vulnerable out of the trailers and into hotels and apartments within the next two weeks.
Davis says he's a plumber's visit away from being able to move back into his house. In the meantime, he does what he can to avoid exposure to the formaldehyde. "If I didn't keep the windows open, my eyes would be running. I knew about formaldehyde, I learned about it in barber school," he says. "I didn't complain about it; at least I have somewhere to stay. But these weren't meant to be lived in--they aren't healthy, not healthy for me at all." For now, he's waiting for FEMA's call.
© 2008
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Member Comments
Posted By: BednarekRealty @ 06/13/2008 2:20:32 AM
Comment: "manufacturers were pressured to deliver the trailers before they'd been adequately ventilated." sounds like
the problem has been isolated & could possibly be solved by installation of (radon removal) fans...bednarekrealty@hotmail.com
Posted By: workn4fun @ 03/02/2008 9:55:38 AM
Comment: Everyone fails to say the Brand of these trailors. I have a 5th wheel I purchased with my hard erned money. Itnwas not given to me, by a government agency. I have been having the same problems, eyes watering and burning, asthma, trouble breathing in the middle of the night even with the air conditioner on. We always have the windows open. I purchased this in 2006, you think the smell would be gone by now. Mine is a Keystone, Springdale 2006. Should I be conserned? I did contact the company and they told me to keep the windows open. A lot a good that does when it's raining or 40 degrees outside.
Posted By: rmforall @ 02/23/2008 10:11:46 PM
Comment: note on trailers and other formaldehyde sources: Rich Murray 2008.02.23
So far, I haven't seen anyone else connect these black dots, and ask, "Since
formaldehyde is formaldehyde, whether from trailers, dark wines and liquors,
tobacco or wood smoke, faulty stoves and heaters, or aspartame, then all
these sources have to be discussed publicly, vigorously, accurately, now,
since it is neurotoxic and carcinogenic, impairing fertility and increasing
birth defects -- right to life issues, anyone? ---
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1455 --- FEMA slow to
safety test Katrina toxic trailers, Charles Babington of Associated Press --
1 ppm formaldehyde in air is about half the daily dose from 3 cans aspartame
diet soda and ten times the 1999 EPA alarm level for drinking water: Murray
2007.07.23 --- Rich Murray rmforall@comcast.net 505-501-2298 1943 Otowi
Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
formaldehyde in FEMA trailers and other sources (aspartame, dark wines and
liquors, tobacco smoke): Murray 2008.01.30
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.htm
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1508
The FEMA trailers give about the same amount of formaldehyde daily as from a
quart of dark wine or liquor, or two quarts (6 12-oz cans) of aspartame diet
soda, from their over 1 tenth gram methanol impurity (one part in 10,000),
which the body quickly makes into formaldehyde -- enough to be the major
cause of "morning after" alcohol hangovers.
Methanol and formaldehyde also result from many fruits and vegetables,
tobacco and wood smoke, heater and vehicle exhaust, household chemicals and
cleaners, cosmetics, and new cars, drapes, carpets, furniture,
particleboard, mobile homes, buildings, leather... so all these sources add
up and interact with many other toxic chemicals.