NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Particleboard appears to be one of the main sources of potentially harmful fumes in government-issued travel trailers that have housed thousands of Gulf Coast storm victims, according to a study released Wednesday.The report issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta recommends using different building materials to produce emergency housing for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Better ventilation in the units also could make them safer, the CDC said. The tests looked at formaldehyde emissions in the walls, floors, ceilings, tables and cabinets in four FEMA trailers that weren't occupied by hurricane victims.
Formaldehyde, a preservative commonly used in construction materials, can cause breathing problems and also is believed to cause cancer. FEMA no longer offers travel trailers for use by disaster victims, but still uses mobile homes.
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