Identifying Formaldehyde Exposure Risks in RVs, Mobile Homes and Travel Trailers

According to some estimates, almost 9 million households in the United States own a recreational vehicle (RV). These RVs include motorized units and all sorts of travel trailers. RVs provide families with the ability to travel and enjoy the outdoors, and some people even utilize their RV as a home for months or even years at a time.

Travel trailers have also been instrumental in providing housing for people following natural disasters. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has used travel trailers and mobile homes to provide temporary housing following hurricanes and other catastrophic events that have damaged and destroyed peoples’ communities.

Following Hurricane Katrina, when displaced people were temporarily housed by FEMA in RVs and mobile homes, concerns over exposure to formaldehyde off-gassing from building materials, furnishings and fabrics in these temporary homes gained national attention. In response, FEMA and other government agencies released a flyer entitled “What You Should Know about Formaldehyde in Mobile Homes.”

The document states that formaldehyde is known to cause cancer and that exposure can make people feel sick if they breathe a lot of it. Symptoms such as sore throat, cough, scratchy eyes and nosebleeds can occur. It also states that some people are also more sensitive than others, so an exposure that causes no problems for some can make others sick or uncomfortable.

“The same government document reports that exposure to formaldehyde might increase the chance of getting cancer even at levels too low to cause symptoms,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “At EMSL, we offer air testing services to identify formaldehyde levels for those who live permanently or temporarily in mobile homes, recreational vehicles or travel trailers. If elevated levels are found, there are mitigation techniques that people can implement to lower the levels of formaldehyde they are being exposed to.” 

EMSL also recently sponsored an educational video about formaldehyde exposure risks in RVs, mobile homes and travel trailers that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/F26bcfafqSY.

To learn more about formaldehyde testing services or other material, indoor air quality and environmental services, please visit www.EMSL.com, email  info@EMSL.com  or call (800) 220-3675.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of environmental, indoor air quality and materials testing services and products to professionals and the general public. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies. 
 

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail