WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently issued a statement concerning its ongoing investigation of formaldehyde emissions in trailers issued to victims of Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters.
FEMA said the trailers meet U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development standards for formaldehyde levels of wood products used in their construction. “The HUD standard places limits on formaldehyde emissions and product certification of all plywood and particleboard materials, which involves emission certification by a nationally recognized testing laboratory and a written quality control plan for each plant where particleboard is produced or finished or where plywood is finished.”
FEMA’s statement acknowledges that “some people may be particularly sensitive to the chemical, while others may not have any noticeable reaction at all.”
FEMA added that ventilating the units, such as opening windows, “can significantly reduce levels of formaldehyde emissions.”
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