Press release: Statement by Dr. Julie Gerberding, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released today preliminary results from recent testing that found higher than typical indoor exposure levels of formaldehyde in travel trailers and mobile homes used as emergency housing in the Gulf Coast Region.

“These findings support FEMA’s continued focus on finding permanent housing for everyone who has been living in travel trailers and mobile homes since the hurricanes,” said CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding. “The levels in many of these trailers and mobile homes are higher than would be expected indoors. Since these levels were found in December and January, and we know that higher temperatures can cause formaldehyde levels to go up, we think it’s wise for people to be relocated before the hot weather arrives in summer. We also think that it would be beneficial for people who are displaying symptoms as well as households with children, elderly persons, or occupants with chronic respiratory illnesses to receive priority consideration for alternate housing.”