Re: CDC To Begin Testing Trailers For Formaldehyde

[Guest guest]

Bet ya they find more than that? and than keep it a secret.

tigerpaw2c <tigerpaw2c@...> wrote: CDC To

Begin Testing Trailers For Formaldehyde

FEMA continues efforts to move residents out of trailers

Release Date: December 13, 2007

Release Number: HQ-07-245a

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=41921

»Formaldehyde Testing FAQs

»Applicant Flyer - English (PDF 2MB, TXT 2KB); Spanish (PDF 2MB, TXT

3KB)

»More on Formaldehyde

NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced

today that testing for formaldehyde levels in trailers and mobile

homes will begin Friday, December 21, 2007. Testing will take place

in Mississippi and Louisiana. The testing comes in response to a

request from FEMA for assistance in answering questions related to

indoor air quality and health in order to answer concerns raised by

residents and community members.

CDC will begin indoor air sampling to determine formaldehyde levels

inside a representative sample of occupied trailers and mobile homes

purchased by FEMA to provide temporary housing for Gulf Coast

residents. Models to be tested include travel trailers; modified

travel trailers, often called " park models; " and mobile homes.

Currently, no federal guidelines or scientific standards exist

related to formaldehyde levels in travel trailers. CDC will provide

guidance to FEMA and information to trailer residents based on

scientific findings. The guidance will help residents understand

what the test results mean for them, and it will help FEMA establish

priorities for which families may be in most urgent need of

permanent housing. FEMA has placed a priority on moving people out

of temporary housing.

" We are mindful of the importance of this information to people who

have been living in temporary housing for such a long time, " said

Dr. Henry Falk, director of CDC's Coordinating Center for

Environmental Health and Injury Prevention, said. " This is a

complex task. Knowledge about health effects of formaldehyde on long-

term residents of temporary housing is limited. Levels we find in

these tests will help everyone involved in this process make better

informed decisions about what steps to take. "

" FEMA's first priority has been and continues to be the health and

safety of temporary housing residents, " said FEMA Administrator

ison. " Upon request, FEMA will continue to move any

temporary housing unit resident with a formaldehyde concern into a

hotel or motel immediately and will work with all residents to

provide them a housing alternative. Every occupant who has

expressed a health concern through our hotline has been offered a

housing alternative and we are continuing to work with each of them

to find a permanent housing solution that meets their needs. "

CDC will take samples of air inside about 500 occupied trailers and

mobile homes. Residents are encouraged to participate in the testing

if contacted, but participation is not required. Testing will take

approximately five weeks. A summary of findings will follow in early

2008, when all testing has been completed and the data have been

analyzed. At the same time, residents who participated in the

testing will be notified of the results for their residences.

Formaldehyde is common in the environment and is used in

manufacturing a variety of building products. Formaldehyde has been

found in almost all indoor environments. It is also a by-product of

combustion and certain other natural processes. Thus, it may be

present in substantial concentrations both indoors and outdoors.

While some mitigation activities may help reduce formaldehyde

levels, all residents continue to be encouraged to seek long-term

housing solutions. FEMA is working with the Departments of Housing

and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs and others to provide

sufficient housing for all residents seeking to move out of trailers

and mobile homes.

The indoor air quality assessment is one of several actions CDC has

initiated to assist FEMA in protecting the health of temporary

housing residents. The other public health activities include:

Convening a panel of experts to identify and advise on health issues

that could be associated with long-term residence in temporary

housing units, such as travel trailers.

Assessing formaldehyde levels across different models and types of

unoccupied trailers to identify the factors that reduce or heighten

those levels. This assessment also involves identifying cost-

effective ways to reduce or lower formaldehyde levels and

concentrations in temporary housing environments. This series of

tests includes conducting an emissions study of building materials

in conjunction with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Conducting a study that looks at the health of children currently

living in trailers along with a long-term study of children born

while their families resided in FEMA trailers and mobile homes in

Mississippi and Louisiana.

Providing educational materials and information to trailer residents

about the CDC studies as well as steps that can be taken to improve

indoor air quality.

The two agencies have established toll-free hotlines to respond to

public inquiries. FEMA employees are available to discuss housing

concerns at 1-866-562-2381, or TTY 1-800-462-7585. CDC specialists

will respond to health-related concerns at 1-800- CDC-INFO.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for,

preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering

from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including

acts of terror.

---------------------------------

Never miss a thing. Make your homepage.

[Guest guest]

" CDC To Begin Testing Trailers For Formaldehyde "

Funny you should post this tonight. I had to get rid of my artificial

xmas tree because of the formaldehyde outgassing. Made me dizzy,

coughing, jumpy.

They know formaldehyde is toxic, so why are they allowed to use it so

much in products? Is it accidental...or not?

[Guest guest]

This is what I've been talking about in the Air-condition systems it cause sores

in the hair as well as headace's and worse the skin depending on how bad it is.

I know I deal with this each and every day it's so bad in the air out side. when

the wind is blowing I have to take cover it also cause bad pain a long list of

things again I deal with this problem.

this is the same problem in Government buildings stores hospital Doctor office

Schools day care the list goes on and on. and Plaese don't take my word

investigate are you living in it working shoping when you eat out is it blowing

in your food? it also affect the eyes my skin looks so bad because of this and

no one seem to understand.

Elvira

tigerpaw2c <tigerpaw2c@...> wrote:

CDC To Begin Testing Trailers For Formaldehyde

FEMA continues efforts to move residents out of trailers

Release Date: December 13, 2007

Release Number: HQ-07-245a

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=41921

»Formaldehyde Testing FAQs

»Applicant Flyer - English (PDF 2MB, TXT 2KB); Spanish (PDF 2MB, TXT

3KB)

»More on Formaldehyde

NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced

today that testing for formaldehyde levels in trailers and mobile

homes will begin Friday, December 21, 2007. Testing will take place

in Mississippi and Louisiana. The testing comes in response to a

request from FEMA for assistance in answering questions related to

indoor air quality and health in order to answer concerns raised by

residents and community members.

CDC will begin indoor air sampling to determine formaldehyde levels

inside a representative sample of occupied trailers and mobile homes

purchased by FEMA to provide temporary housing for Gulf Coast

residents. Models to be tested include travel trailers; modified

travel trailers, often called " park models; " and mobile homes.

Currently, no federal guidelines or scientific standards exist

related to formaldehyde levels in travel trailers. CDC will provide

guidance to FEMA and information to trailer residents based on

scientific findings. The guidance will help residents understand

what the test results mean for them, and it will help FEMA establish

priorities for which families may be in most urgent need of

permanent housing. FEMA has placed a priority on moving people out

of temporary housing.

" We are mindful of the importance of this information to people who

have been living in temporary housing for such a long time, " said

Dr. Henry Falk, director of CDC's Coordinating Center for

Environmental Health and Injury Prevention, said. " This is a

complex task. Knowledge about health effects of formaldehyde on long-

term residents of temporary housing is limited. Levels we find in

these tests will help everyone involved in this process make better

informed decisions about what steps to take. "

" FEMA's first priority has been and continues to be the health and

safety of temporary housing residents, " said FEMA Administrator

ison. " Upon request, FEMA will continue to move any

temporary housing unit resident with a formaldehyde concern into a

hotel or motel immediately and will work with all residents to

provide them a housing alternative. Every occupant who has

expressed a health concern through our hotline has been offered a

housing alternative and we are continuing to work with each of them

to find a permanent housing solution that meets their needs. "

CDC will take samples of air inside about 500 occupied trailers and

mobile homes. Residents are encouraged to participate in the testing

if contacted, but participation is not required. Testing will take

approximately five weeks. A summary of findings will follow in early

2008, when all testing has been completed and the data have been

analyzed. At the same time, residents who participated in the

testing will be notified of the results for their residences.

Formaldehyde is common in the environment and is used in

manufacturing a variety of building products. Formaldehyde has been

found in almost all indoor environments. It is also a by-product of

combustion and certain other natural processes. Thus, it may be

present in substantial concentrations both indoors and outdoors.

While some mitigation activities may help reduce formaldehyde

levels, all residents continue to be encouraged to seek long-term

housing solutions. FEMA is working with the Departments of Housing

and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs and others to provide

sufficient housing for all residents seeking to move out of trailers

and mobile homes.

The indoor air quality assessment is one of several actions CDC has

initiated to assist FEMA in protecting the health of temporary

housing residents. The other public health activities include:

Convening a panel of experts to identify and advise on health issues

that could be associated with long-term residence in temporary

housing units, such as travel trailers.

Assessing formaldehyde levels across different models and types of

unoccupied trailers to identify the factors that reduce or heighten

those levels. This assessment also involves identifying cost-

effective ways to reduce or lower formaldehyde levels and

concentrations in temporary housing environments. This series of

tests includes conducting an emissions study of building materials

in conjunction with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Conducting a study that looks at the health of children currently

living in trailers along with a long-term study of children born

while their families resided in FEMA trailers and mobile homes in

Mississippi and Louisiana.

Providing educational materials and information to trailer residents

about the CDC studies as well as steps that can be taken to improve

indoor air quality.

The two agencies have established toll-free hotlines to respond to

public inquiries. FEMA employees are available to discuss housing

concerns at 1-866-562-2381, or TTY 1-800-462-7585. CDC specialists

will respond to health-related concerns at 1-800- CDC-INFO.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for,

preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering

from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including

acts of terror.

---------------------------------

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

These poor people!

I just sold my artificial xmas tree because of the formaldehyde smell.

I can't even imagine living in a house that reeked of formaldehyde.

Should have listened to Lourdes.

Is it that all the new trailers smell like that? Just wondered.

[Guest guest]

Classic Straw man argument, they know mold is what is making people sick

inside of these things so they ignore this and test for formaldehyde

instead, find the levels are acceptable, tell the people

their experiencing stress and simply need to blow off a little steam.

People continue to get sick in them and the manufactures and stock holders

save billions in liability and live happily ever after.

On Dec 13, 2007 4:35 PM, tigerpaw2c <tigerpaw2c@...> wrote:

> CDC To Begin Testing Trailers For Formaldehyde

> FEMA continues efforts to move residents out of trailers

>

> Release Date: December 13, 2007

> Release Number: HQ-07-245a

>

> http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=41921

>

> »Formaldehyde Testing FAQs

> »Applicant Flyer - English (PDF 2MB, TXT 2KB); Spanish (PDF 2MB, TXT

> 3KB)

> »More on Formaldehyde

>

> NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

> and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced

> today that testing for formaldehyde levels in trailers and mobile

> homes will begin Friday, December 21, 2007. Testing will take place

> in Mississippi and Louisiana. The testing comes in response to a

> request from FEMA for assistance in answering questions related to

> indoor air quality and health in order to answer concerns raised by

> residents and community members.

>

> CDC will begin indoor air sampling to determine formaldehyde levels

> inside a representative sample of occupied trailers and mobile homes

> purchased by FEMA to provide temporary housing for Gulf Coast

> residents. Models to be tested include travel trailers; modified

> travel trailers, often called " park models; " and mobile homes.

>

> Currently, no federal guidelines or scientific standards exist

> related to formaldehyde levels in travel trailers. CDC will provide

> guidance to FEMA and information to trailer residents based on

> scientific findings. The guidance will help residents understand

> what the test results mean for them, and it will help FEMA establish

> priorities for which families may be in most urgent need of

> permanent housing. FEMA has placed a priority on moving people out

> of temporary housing.

>

> " We are mindful of the importance of this information to people who

> have been living in temporary housing for such a long time, " said

> Dr. Henry Falk, director of CDC's Coordinating Center for

> Environmental Health and Injury Prevention, said. " This is a

> complex task. Knowledge about health effects of formaldehyde on long-

> term residents of temporary housing is limited. Levels we find in

> these tests will help everyone involved in this process make better

> informed decisions about what steps to take. "

>

> " FEMA's first priority has been and continues to be the health and

> safety of temporary housing residents, " said FEMA Administrator

> ison. " Upon request, FEMA will continue to move any

> temporary housing unit resident with a formaldehyde concern into a

> hotel or motel immediately and will work with all residents to

> provide them a housing alternative. Every occupant who has

> expressed a health concern through our hotline has been offered a

> housing alternative and we are continuing to work with each of them

> to find a permanent housing solution that meets their needs. "

>

> CDC will take samples of air inside about 500 occupied trailers and

> mobile homes. Residents are encouraged to participate in the testing

> if contacted, but participation is not required. Testing will take

> approximately five weeks. A summary of findings will follow in early

> 2008, when all testing has been completed and the data have been

> analyzed. At the same time, residents who participated in the

> testing will be notified of the results for their residences.

>

> Formaldehyde is common in the environment and is used in

> manufacturing a variety of building products. Formaldehyde has been

> found in almost all indoor environments. It is also a by-product of

> combustion and certain other natural processes. Thus, it may be

> present in substantial concentrations both indoors and outdoors.

>

> While some mitigation activities may help reduce formaldehyde

> levels, all residents continue to be encouraged to seek long-term

> housing solutions. FEMA is working with the Departments of Housing

> and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs and others to provide

> sufficient housing for all residents seeking to move out of trailers

> and mobile homes.

>

> The indoor air quality assessment is one of several actions CDC has

> initiated to assist FEMA in protecting the health of temporary

> housing residents. The other public health activities include:

>

> Convening a panel of experts to identify and advise on health issues

> that could be associated with long-term residence in temporary

> housing units, such as travel trailers.

> Assessing formaldehyde levels across different models and types of

> unoccupied trailers to identify the factors that reduce or heighten

> those levels. This assessment also involves identifying cost-

> effective ways to reduce or lower formaldehyde levels and

> concentrations in temporary housing environments. This series of

> tests includes conducting an emissions study of building materials

> in conjunction with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

> Conducting a study that looks at the health of children currently

> living in trailers along with a long-term study of children born

> while their families resided in FEMA trailers and mobile homes in

> Mississippi and Louisiana.

> Providing educational materials and information to trailer residents

> about the CDC studies as well as steps that can be taken to improve

> indoor air quality.

> The two agencies have established toll-free hotlines to respond to

> public inquiries. FEMA employees are available to discuss housing

> concerns at 1-866-562-2381, or TTY 1-800-462-7585. CDC specialists

> will respond to health-related concerns at 1-800- CDC-INFO.

>

> FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for,

> preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering

> from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including

> acts of terror.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

probably both there. they just gave the formagahide a few years to

mellow out before testing so it wont show just how bad it was.

wonder how many times worse it actually was a few years ago.

>

> > CDC To Begin Testing Trailers For Formaldehyde

> > FEMA continues efforts to move residents out of trailers

> >

> > Release Date: December 13, 2007

> > Release Number: HQ-07-245a

> >

> > http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=41921

> >

> > »Formaldehyde Testing FAQs

> > »Applicant Flyer - English (PDF 2MB, TXT 2KB); Spanish (PDF 2MB,

TXT

> > 3KB)

> > »More on Formaldehyde

> >

> > NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

> > and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced

> > today that testing for formaldehyde levels in trailers and mobile

> > homes will begin Friday, December 21, 2007. Testing will take

place

> > in Mississippi and Louisiana. The testing comes in response to a

> > request from FEMA for assistance in answering questions related to

> > indoor air quality and health in order to answer concerns raised

by

> > residents and community members.

> >

> > CDC will begin indoor air sampling to determine formaldehyde

levels

> > inside a representative sample of occupied trailers and mobile

homes

> > purchased by FEMA to provide temporary housing for Gulf Coast

> > residents. Models to be tested include travel trailers; modified

> > travel trailers, often called " park models; " and mobile homes.

> >

> > Currently, no federal guidelines or scientific standards exist

> > related to formaldehyde levels in travel trailers. CDC will

provide

> > guidance to FEMA and information to trailer residents based on

> > scientific findings. The guidance will help residents understand

> > what the test results mean for them, and it will help FEMA

establish

> > priorities for which families may be in most urgent need of

> > permanent housing. FEMA has placed a priority on moving people out

> > of temporary housing.

> >

> > " We are mindful of the importance of this information to people

who

> > have been living in temporary housing for such a long time, " said

> > Dr. Henry Falk, director of CDC's Coordinating Center for

> > Environmental Health and Injury Prevention, said. " This is a

> > complex task. Knowledge about health effects of formaldehyde on

long-

> > term residents of temporary housing is limited. Levels we find in

> > these tests will help everyone involved in this process make

better

> > informed decisions about what steps to take. "

> >

> > " FEMA's first priority has been and continues to be the health and

> > safety of temporary housing residents, " said FEMA Administrator

> > ison. " Upon request, FEMA will continue to move any

> > temporary housing unit resident with a formaldehyde concern into a

> > hotel or motel immediately and will work with all residents to

> > provide them a housing alternative. Every occupant who has

> > expressed a health concern through our hotline has been offered a

> > housing alternative and we are continuing to work with each of

them

> > to find a permanent housing solution that meets their needs. "

> >

> > CDC will take samples of air inside about 500 occupied trailers

and

> > mobile homes. Residents are encouraged to participate in the

testing

> > if contacted, but participation is not required. Testing will take

> > approximately five weeks. A summary of findings will follow in

early

> > 2008, when all testing has been completed and the data have been

> > analyzed. At the same time, residents who participated in the

> > testing will be notified of the results for their residences.

> >

> > Formaldehyde is common in the environment and is used in

> > manufacturing a variety of building products. Formaldehyde has

been

> > found in almost all indoor environments. It is also a by-product

of

> > combustion and certain other natural processes. Thus, it may be

> > present in substantial concentrations both indoors and outdoors.

> >

> > While some mitigation activities may help reduce formaldehyde

> > levels, all residents continue to be encouraged to seek long-term

> > housing solutions. FEMA is working with the Departments of Housing

> > and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs and others to provide

> > sufficient housing for all residents seeking to move out of

trailers

> > and mobile homes.

> >

> > The indoor air quality assessment is one of several actions CDC

has

> > initiated to assist FEMA in protecting the health of temporary

> > housing residents. The other public health activities include:

> >

> > Convening a panel of experts to identify and advise on health

issues

> > that could be associated with long-term residence in temporary

> > housing units, such as travel trailers.

> > Assessing formaldehyde levels across different models and types of

> > unoccupied trailers to identify the factors that reduce or

heighten

> > those levels. This assessment also involves identifying cost-

> > effective ways to reduce or lower formaldehyde levels and

> > concentrations in temporary housing environments. This series of

> > tests includes conducting an emissions study of building materials

> > in conjunction with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

> > Conducting a study that looks at the health of children currently

> > living in trailers along with a long-term study of children born

> > while their families resided in FEMA trailers and mobile homes in

> > Mississippi and Louisiana.

> > Providing educational materials and information to trailer

residents

> > about the CDC studies as well as steps that can be taken to

improve

> > indoor air quality.

> > The two agencies have established toll-free hotlines to respond to

> > public inquiries. FEMA employees are available to discuss housing

> > concerns at 1-866-562-2381, or TTY 1-800-462-7585. CDC specialists

> > will respond to health-related concerns at 1-800- CDC-INFO.

> >

> > FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for,

> > preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and

recovering

> > from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made,

including

> > acts of terror.

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Almost forgot, here is a link to my page showing the type of mold my

2005 travel trailer had growing in it before I even took it off the

showroom lot.

http://geocities.com/antares4141/moldpics/trailers.html

These things are a mold suffer's worst nightmare!

>

> Classic Straw man argument, they know mold is what is making people

sick

> inside of these things so they ignore this and test for formaldehyde

> instead, find the levels are acceptable, tell the people

> their experiencing stress and simply need to blow off a little

steam.

> People continue to get sick in them and the manufactures and stock

holders

> save billions in liability and live happily ever after.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

It could very well be the formaldehyde from the new trailers. New

plastic products (petroleum base) gas off for long periods of time.

If they were sensitive to mold, this would make formaldehyde a

heightened sensitivity.

[Guest guest]

As I recall I posted on this subject. Formaldehyde in a home is potentially a

serious problem. The CDC and FEMA know this, while FEMA ignored the subject

until the pressure was so great that the organization had to admit that there is

a problem. Formaldehyde is a irritant to mucous membranes, a known carcinogen

and has been shown to cause brain damage. It conjugates to proteins upon

inhalation. In addition, it readily binds to DNA causing mutations. It is also

a fetal toxicant. Chronic low level exposure causes chemical hypersensitivity

and other health problems. Thus, the combination of both formaldehyde and

mold/bacterial growth is a potentially very deadly combination. The mobile home

and travel trailer industries have known about the health problems from

formaldehyde outgassing from particleboard and other wood products since

approximately 1959. These home must be tested and the innocent occupants do

have legal recourse.

Jack D. Thrasher, Ph.D.

Toxicologist/Immunotoxicologist/Fetaltoxicologist

[Guest guest]

Dr. Thrasher,

I think the point I am trying to make here is this is a red herring. The

levels of exposure were talking about might affect exceptionally vulnerable

people and their is no realistic way to qaunticate this.

Conversely mold exposure because the effects are highly reproducible would

be, and can be quantitated scientifically. And impossible to refute if the

tests are done properly.

I believe authority's know this and are actively avoiding such a thing

because it would expose corruption on a level never before realized.

Ultimately it would expose in an extremely tangible way how many different

types of chemical exposures lead directly to an immune disorders I refer to

as " mold related illness " . Not just to some nebulous gray area of science

your referring to that will never be accepted by most of the scientific

community and be debated for years to come.

So while we are on the same wavelength in one perspective that yes this

exposure is damaging. And while this isn't meant to be an attack on you

personally, I believe any toxicologist with your view, or lawyer, or

activist, or plaintiff pursuing this end, is doing insurmountable damage to

the millions of victims in the US alone that suffer from mold reactivity to

one degree or another. (cfs, fms, mcs, gws, sbs, etc.) And ultimately to

the very cause they purport themselves to support. Which is defending

victims of toxic exposure.

The issue of mold in these trailers and how it relates to illness in some

while not by most needs to be exposed and understood. Not eclipsed by the

possible connection of formaldehyde that for all intents and purposes will

never be proven in any substantive way and thus refuted or debated or simply

not accepted by the scientific community.

On Dec 17, 2007 8:46 AM, Jack Thrasher, Ph.D. <toxicologist1@...> wrote:

> As I recall I posted on this subject. Formaldehyde in a home is

> potentially a serious problem. The CDC and FEMA know this, while FEMA

> ignored the subject until the pressure was so great that the organization

> had to admit that there is a problem. Formaldehyde is a irritant to mucous

> membranes, a known carcinogen and has been shown to cause brain damage. It

> conjugates to proteins upon inhalation. In addition, it readily binds to DNA

> causing mutations. It is also a fetal toxicant. Chronic low level exposure

> causes chemical hypersensitivity and other health problems. Thus, the

> combination of both formaldehyde and mold/bacterial growth is a potentially

> very deadly combination. The mobile home and travel trailer industries have

> known about the health problems from formaldehyde outgassing from

> particleboard and other wood products since approximately 1959. These home

> must be tested and the innocent occupants do have legal recourse.

>

> Jack D. Thrasher, Ph.D.

> Toxicologist/Immunotoxicologist/Fetaltoxicologist

>

>

[Guest guest]

I know that if you have allergies to mold, you can easily be sensitive

to chemicals such as formaldehyde. People with mold allergies tend to

have asthma or extreme bronchi sensitivity.

Done!

[Guest guest]

>

> Dr. Thrasher,

>

> I think the point I am trying to make here is this is a red

herring. The

> levels of exposure were talking about might affect exceptionally

vulnerable

> people and their is no realistic way to qaunticate this.

=====================================================

Hi,

I don't quite understand the motive for declaring that different

contaminants are competing for public attention. It is well known

that mold dangers are denied or vastly underestimated by all

agencies and in the medical literature. However, that has nothing to

do with the fact that formaldehyde has a long history of well

studied effects, even to the banning of certain materials like the

blown in urea-formaldehyde insulation used years ago. Formaldehyde

is associated with both allergic and non-allergic sensitization

effects, not to mention effects of primary poisoning for this very

toxic substance. People die from over-exposure to this substance.

In the article, it too, was somewhat casually treated but there is

so much history there that the opportunity to educate the public on

this extremely common hazard in the US should be lauded by all

environmentally ill people.

It also allows the congressional sympathizers leeway to get around

the experts lining up to dismiss mold issues as harming people. The

presence of mold does nothing to lessen the effects of formaldehyde

toxicity and indeed increases risks for each type of damage in a

synergistic manner.

If even one contaminant gains credibility in the public view, the

concepts of EI from multiple sources, including mold, gains credence.

It is true that formaldehyde effects are on the 'books' for

employment settings rather than residences. However, WHO (World

Health Organization of the UN) does have recommendations for indoor

formaldehyde concentrations in residences that is 0.05 parts per

million. Placing that in perspective, a person working as an

embalmer is said to have an exposure to formaldehyde of about 0.3

ppm with a level of 1.0 ppm considered a legal hazard for

occupational exposure (not 24 hours per day exposure as with a

residence). So you can see how strongly toxic this stuff actually

is for the recommended levels to be in the parts per billion

(preferably undetectable in residences).

I moved into an apartment which was two years old and it turned out

to have about seven inches of insulation in the walls. Already

disabled by pesticide poisoning with extrinsic asthma, I still

developed novel symptoms of sinus and lung irritation leading to

increasing severity of asthma, inflammation etc. I tested the

apartment via Clayton Laboratories using test tubes obtained for the

purpose from SKC lab supplies (no financial interest in these

companies) and learned the levels in the room suspected as having

the best air quality (bedroom away from plywood kitchen cabinetry)

STILL had levels exceeding the WHO criteria of 0.57 and .58 ppm - I

took two samples for purposes of confirmation. Testing cost under

$200 and permitted me to leave without penalty of breaking a lease,

gave my doctor a firm basis for explaining the exacerbation of my

condition from a medical perspective and also got me the return of

my security deposit. I did not file any law suits, just tested for

my own protection and decision making needs. I did inform the owner

of course and my neighbors, one of whom reported exacerbation of her

own inflammation based health problems since moving in, as well as

breathing difficulties for her pet cat.

It is important not to diminish the importance of identifying this

long known, disabling contaminant which is very strongly damaging to

trailer occupants. I run my own net support group and can't tell you

how many attribute their EI status to occupancy of new homes and

trailers. Europe does not allow the use of formaldehyde in their

construction materials but here in the US, formaldehyde is in

everything.

I hope everyone will consider the recognition of formaldehyde

toxicity in trailers to be a positive step. They are going to

continue to downplay mold anywhere it appears so we may as well

celebrate for the moment that many others will be saved formaldehyde

poisoning and sensitization effects from these efforts. Perhaps it

will help us to get that chemical removed from our own construction

materials or finally have the amount that can be used capped etc.

I have an article on the use of toxicological testing procedures for

home and office in the winter issue of Pariah magazine, for

environmentally injured folks at the URL below, called " The Value of

Testing " . The magazine accepts no paid advertising and I received

no compensation for it so there are no competing financial interests

in the project.

http://www.accert.org/winter_solstice_pariah_people.htm#The%20Value%

20of%20Testing

I hope it will be of use to some of you in future.

Barb Rubin

[Guest guest]

I was involved and published my research on this issue beginning in 1987. We

did immune testing on indiviudals who live in mobile homes and trailers. The

work is published in the Archives of Environmental Health, Environmental Health

Perspectives and American Journal of Industrial Medicine. In summation we found

immune actiivation, autoimmunity, and aberrations in lymphocyte mitogenesis. At

the time that we did the testing the formaldehyde concentrations ranged from as

low as 0.05 to 0.7 ppm. You cannot say that mold alone is the problem. There

is a dual problem: mold and formaldehyde. Both are difficult to quantitate.

Jack D. Thrasher, Ph.D.

Toxicologist/Immunotoxicologist/Fetaltoxicologist

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[Guest guest]

>You cannot say that mold alone is the problem. There is a dual problem:

mold and formaldehyde. Both are difficult to quantitate.

But this is exactly what the law suites are implying about formaldehyde and

that is the crux of my issue.

One is next to impossible to quantitate and the other would be easy to

quantitate if the funds were availible to conduct a carefully controled

study in an optimal test environment.

My own anecdotal experience as having lived in one of these exact trailers

brand new off of the lot for a little over a year. I believe the

formaldehyde had next to nothing to do with my symptoms. Fully admitting

when you have confounding factors it's hard to gauge accurately. But I

believe strongly this to be true. One thing we sufferers have to keep in

mind is how easy it is to fool ourselves. So I am giving myself some room

for error here.

Scientifically the mold is far more plausible and verifiable because the

symptoms are so easy to reproduce.

I would argue you could trick every single one of the fema trailer victims

into thinking they were exposed to formaldehyde when in fact it was mold.

On Dec 18, 2007 10:57 AM, Jack Thrasher, Ph.D. <toxicologist1@...>

wrote:

> I was involved and published my research on this issue beginning in

> 1987. We did immune testing on indiviudals who live in mobile homes and

> trailers. The work is published in the Archives of Environmental Health,

> Environmental Health Perspectives and American Journal of Industrial

> Medicine. In summation we found immune actiivation, autoimmunity, and

> aberrations in lymphocyte mitogenesis. At the time that we did the testing

> the formaldehyde concentrations ranged from as low as 0.05 to 0.7 ppm. You

> cannot say that mold alone is the problem. There is a dual problem: mold and

> formaldehyde. Both are difficult to quantitate.

>

> Jack D. Thrasher, Ph.D.

> Toxicologist/Immunotoxicologist/Fetaltoxicologist

>

>

> This message and any attachments forwarded with it is to be considered

> privileged and confidential. The forwarding or redistribution of this

> message (and any attachments) without my prior written consent is strictly

> prohibited and may violate privacy laws. Once the intended purpose of this

> message has been served, please destroy the original message contents. If

> you have received this message in error, please reply immediately to advise

> the sender of the miscommunication and then delete the message and any

> copies you have printed. Thank you in advance for your compliance.

>

>