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FORMALDEHYDE IN RVs
This is a problem we all need to
address. We can contact
manufacturers and we can insist on more
natural and organic materials....
WITH YOUR COMMENTS AND LINKS TO RoTi ARTICLES |
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| Summary: The most significant
source is likely to be pressed wood
products made using adhesives with UF
(urea-formaldehyde) resins. This
includes furniture made with particle
board and plywood paneling.
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Effects
on
health
(US
Environmental
Agency):
Formaldehyde,
a
colorless,
pungent-smelling
gas,
can
cause
watery
eyes,
burning
sensations
in
the
eyes
and
throat,
nausea,
and
difficulty
in
breathing
in
some
humans
exposed
at
elevated
levels
(above
0.1
parts
per
million).
High
concentrations
may
trigger
attacks
in
people
with
asthma.
There
is
evidence
that
some
people
can
develop
a
sensitivity
to
formaldehyde.
It
has
also
been
shown
to
cause
cancer
in
animals
and
may
cause
cancer
in
humans.
Health
effects
include
eye,
nose,
and
throat
irritation;
wheezing
and
coughing;
fatigue;
skin
rash;
severe
allergic
reactions.
This is a problem we all need to
address. We can contact
manufacturers and we can insist on more
natural and organic materials.
The
following
quotes
from
the
US
Environmental
Agency:
"In
homes,
the
most
significant
sources
of
formaldehyde
are
likely
to
be
pressed
wood
products
made
using
adhesives
that
contain
urea-formaldehyde
(UF)
resins.
Pressed
wood
products
made
for
indoor
use
include:
particleboard
(used
as
sub-flooring
and
shelving
and
in
cabinetry
and
furniture);
hardwood
plywood
paneling
(used
for
decorative
wall
covering
and
used
in
cabinets
and
furniture);
and
medium
density
fiberboard
(used
for
drawer
fronts,
cabinets,
and
furniture
tops).
Medium
density
fiberboard
contains
a
higher
resin-to-wood
ratio
than
any
other
UF
pressed
wood
product
and
is
generally
recognized
as
being
the
highest
formaldehyde-emitting
pressed
wood
product.
Other
pressed
wood
products,
such
as
softwood
plywood
and
flake
or
oriented
strandboard,
are
produced
for
exterior
construction
use
and
contain
the
dark,
or
red/black-colored
phenol-formaldehyde
(PF)
resin.
Although
formaldehyde
is
present
in
both
types
of
resins,
pressed
woods
that
contain
PF
resin
generally
emit
formaldehyde
at
considerably
lower
rates
than
those
containing
UF
resin."
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| title | author | comments | |
| Re: Formaldehyde in RVs | Capitalkid_1 | Thank God for this site.
My family and I are in our first Mobile Home Rental. It is a 1969 Pre-Hud Home, and every bit a safety hazard as the trailers.
We did a full inspection of the home last week and found multiple code violations and health and safety code issues with it. We wrote up a report and had it sent to our property management. The results are in and we are getting let out of our lease and this house is not going to be listed for rent again by them. I am sure the Landlords are bent, but they should not be renting this hazard trap out, not for 800.00 a month anyway-Maybe 300.00 with a disclosure.
We have all had issues, mine had to due with eyesight changes that came out of nowhere, 7 day headaches, sinus issues, ect.
There is an add-on in this trailer,and one night after the Forced Air Unit Broke down we all had to move into the Add-On to keep warm with the Cadet Heater in the wall. We stayed in there for 3 days all total before we got our first load of wood and moved back into the house with the Woodstove.
My Son now refers to that room as the "Sneezing Room". My husband has asthma and has since he was a kid and therefore does not notice health changes quite as much as we do because he somewhat under the weather all the time.
However my son and I do not ordinarily have health concerns and I got the scratchy throat, low grade fever, (so did the boy) and it took about 3 days for the symptoms to go away after we moved back into the house. Another thing I noticed was the boy was not breathing right for a few days.
Quite Scary.
Fast forward a week, so we look into the option of going full timing again and buying a bigger rig. So after a few calls and a few visits to RV Dealers in town, I Googled Rv "Health and safety hazards". What I turned up was this and many other sites listed on and on and on.
I was in shock, i thought this type of carelessness was only practiced Pre-Hud.
Well, needless to say we decided right away after a day of reading that we would not be buying a new Rv now or ever.
In April of 2010 we bought a 1977 KIT Kamper for 500.00. We then turned around adn tore it down, and re-built it from the ground up with all new hardware. This thing is tight. We located all the wood paneling through Lowes certified free of Formaldehyde that came from a Manufacturer up in Washington somewhere. It was just 4-5$ more than the formaldehyde based fiber. As well, all the cabinets that went back in were replaced with wood, the skeletons of the inside and outside as well. The only thing we did not do was the birth itself.
So, now in light of this, as we know that not ANY of the RV Dealers or Companies can be trusted, we have spread out a plan to build our own travel trailer, be it 4-5 years down the road, that is what it be.
We stayed at a KOA In Corvallis Oregon for 2 months and during the time we were there, there was a couple in the next row over that had serious health issues.
The women was sweet and nice, said they had been full-timing in their 5'r for 8 years. During the 2 months we were there the Ambulance came about 11 times for the wife due to breathing problems and out of the 11 times 4 times she went to the hospital and then returned.
Funny thing about that is after 4 days out of the Rv, which is about how long she was gone each time, she began to heal and thus was released and thus returned to her RV, where she got sick again.
I am a Certified Nutritional Consultant, not thats that is any big deal, but I do know a thing or two about personal nutrition. During that whole time I would visit with her and chit chat,and as far as I could tell she was practicing good food choices. But it wasn't enough.
I never knew of the implications of the Rv Industry. If I had known then what I know now, I would have told her to move into a house. I have emailed the Camp host requesting to know if they are still booked in there, and if they are I am going to print out this chat and send it to her and her husband.
God bless everyone who speaks up. | See RoTi item |
| Re:Reducing formaldehyde in RVs | Joan of NJ | I react very strongly to any kind of chemicals and I had NO REACTION to one RV, even though it had been manufactured one week prior to my visit. It was a Pleasureway. Although they do not claim toxin-free, they said (when I asked)they do everything possible to minimize the use of anything potentially toxic. | See RoTi item |
| Re: Formaldehyde poisoning in RVs | Sick in CA | So sorry for your brothers loss. Yes, formaldehyde is toxic and makes us sick. With a rare neuro-muscular disease, Myasthenia, I react to formaldehyde gas within a few minutes with extreme muscle weakness. I get so sick and cannot even walk after 20-30 min. depending on strength of formaldehyde gas. I'm a walking radar and some other toxic substances such as bleach, paint stripper, benzeine (used to make formaldehyde), and petro-chemicals, etc. also shut down my muscles quickly. Formaldehyde is found in glues, plastics, foams, most mattresses, carpets, fake woods, glued wood veneers, fabrics, and numerous building materials. Usually business offices are worse and the cheap flat tufted carpets seem to have higher content. Charcoal air filters help but most homes/offices do not run these. Some people are less able to genetically to process toxins out of their system. Anyway you look at it, the toxic gas causes symptoms; headaches, asthma, fatigue and even cancer and more. Business offices are often closed up with windows that are permanantely shut - a cancer nightmare. Indoor air quality is worse than outside. The formaldehyde/toxic products should be outlawed in our building materials, fabrics, etc. | See RoTi item |
| Re:Reducing formaldehyde in RVs | janice of virginia | we are thinking of buying fifth wheel to live in. i have COPD(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). I fear that i will have exposure to formaldehyde. the saleaperson says most of the formaldehyde is non-existant in the models since Katrina. Is this true? I would hate to be unable to stay in the rv as we are contemplating it as a permanent residence. also, are there other options such as making sure all componets are hardwood, etc ?? | See RoTi item |
| Re:Reducing formaldehyde in RVs | janice of virginia | we are thinking of buying fifth wheel to live in. i have COPD(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). I fear that i will have exposure to formaldehyde. the saleaperson says most of the formaldehyde is non-existant in the models since Katrina. Is this true. I would hate to ber unable to stay in the rv as we are contemplating it as a permanent residence. also, are there other options such as making sure all componets are hardwood, etc ?? | See RoTi item |
| Re: RVs and alergies | SB | Mold can be tested by surface samples and air samples; however, you must find a competent agency to do this. However, mold is everywhere, and elevated levels of mold are determined by comparison with mold levels in exterior air. Some molds are deadly. FEMA has some documents with discuss elevated mold levels and often the mold labs have their own guidelines. If you can prove that a manufacturing defect caused a water leak that caused mold to form you have a legal cause of action and should contact an attorney--or start first with the BBB, and see if they can help.
Formaldehyde can be tested with VOC air sampling. Again, you need a certified company to do such testing. There are governmental regulations for formaldehyde levels; however, sensitive people may have problems with formaldehyde even when levels are officially acceptable. Formaldehyde off-gassing should decrease over time, as others have noted. However, the glues and other chemicals in the particle board and accessories can cause other VOC's (volatile organic compounds) which are also allergens. | See RoTi item |
| Re: Escape small travel trailer | HappyEscapee | I just got a new Escape 17 trailer this spring, and I love it. Have been camping every weekend since, and also one longer trip. The Escape is of very high quality, and it has everything you might need! No formaldehyde smell coming from this one, unlike what you get from many of the stickie-built RVs. Furthermore, it is very economic to tow with a midsize SUV or truck. | See RoTi item |
| Re: Formaldehyde poisoning in RVs | Kimberly | MY MOTHER JUST DIED MAY31 WITH LUNG DISEASE, SHE BOUGHT A HOME FROM PALM HARBOR HOMES THAT HAD FORMADEHYDE AND ALSO SIGNED A PAPER THAT SAID IT HAD IT INSIDE OF HOME,, HOW IS IT THAT IN 2010 WE CAN PURCHASE HOMES THAT WILL CLAIM YOUR LIFE AND MAY CLAIM THE LIFE OF ANYONE WHO VISITS LOOKING TO SEE IF CLASS ACTION LAW SUITS ARE OUT THERE ON THIS SO MAYBE WE CAN GET IT REMOVED AND A SAFER MEASURE TAKEN VERY DISAPPOINTED IN STATE AND FEDERAL COMMENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF THIS FORMALDEHYDE POISONING.... I'M SUPPOSE TO SELL HER HOME KNOWNING IT CLAIMED HER LIFE, SISTER IS SICK FROM HELPING TAKING CARE OF HER AND DOCTORS DONT WANT TO RECONIZE THE FORMALDEHYDE BEING CAUSE OF HER LUNG DISEASE NOW OR HER GRANSONS WHO IS 6 LUNG DISEASE...HELP PLEASE DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO | See RoTi item |
| Re: Galileo RS travel trailer | kendrex | Is it formaldehyde free? | See RoTi item |
| Re: EverGreen Ever-Lite travel trailer | Greg P | The Evergreen is really nice and I've also been looking at the Earthbound and Galileo on the reviews. It's good to see the manufacturers thinking about green. We have a 3 years old trailer that really had a strong smell of formaldehyde when we bought it. I hope this is changing and these RVs look great, I'd definitely not buy a trailer with a smell again. | See RoTi item |
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