The toxic trailers used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to house thousands of homeless Gulf Coast residents after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were found to be troublesome to occupants’ health due to cheap building materials and lax government standards for RVs, scientists said Wednesday. “Manufacturers of travel trailers and the government agencies that influence their design should consider using construction materials that emit lower levels of formaldehyde, as well as designs that increase outside air ventilation,” said Michael McGeehin of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. But while that’s under consideration, you don’t have to wait for a hurricane to hit your neighborhood to get your own toxic trailer — apparently they’re on the market now. (Thanks, lax government standards!) FEMA received some 11,000 complaints about trailer occupants’ health; some 19,000 FEMA trailers are still being used by Katrina victims.
