2005年卡崔娜與麗塔颶風侵襲美國墨西哥灣沿岸，當時政府曾配發拖車屋與流動屋作為災民應急住所，而最高衛生單位近日在這些房屋進行量測，發現含有高濃度的甲醛氣體。
美國聯邦急難管理局（FEMA）數年來始終否認拖車屋居民因高濃度甲醛產生健康問題，但15日也改口呼籲居民，儘速從3萬5千輛拖車屋遷移到其他住所。
甲醛被美國環保署認定為可能致癌物質，低濃度的甲醛會刺激眼鼻、喉嚨與皮膚。聯邦毒性物質及疾病登記局（ATSDR）則指出氣喘患者若吸入甲醛，可能會有更嚴重的症狀。
FEMA局長波里森（David Paulison）表示，「順應初步調查結果，FEMA會特別為拖車屋居民尋找替代房舍，確保他們的安全與福祉。FEMA會積極持續行動，並提供居民最新的資訊」
波里森說，「在最後分析結果出爐前，我們就會盡力繼續，甚至加快安置居民的行動。住在拖車屋的家庭最多有約14萬4千戶，其中有10萬5千戶已經搬離。」
美國疾病防治中心(CDC)主任葛柏汀(Julie Gerberding)則表示，已經感到身體不適的人應儘快搬出拖車屋，「出現病徵的居民，或有小孩、老人與慢性呼吸疾病患者的家庭，最好能優先予以安置到替代住所。」
CDC在2007年12月到今年1月間隨機選取519間拖車屋進行測量，發現平均有77ppb的甲醛，遠高於正常房屋室內空氣應有的10-20ppb。其中有些拖車屋甲醛濃度比77ppb的平均值高出7倍，整體量測到的濃度範圍從3pbb到590ppb不等。
CDC指出，「長期暴露在這種濃度範圍中，會使增加罹癌風險增高，濃度如果更高，還可能會導致呼吸疾病。」
波里森表示，FEMA先前已宣佈將關閉所有拖車屋社區的計畫，並會6月1日前完成安置居民的工作。有983戶已在2月的第一週搬入臨時住宅，FEMA會以每週800至1000戶的速度繼續進行遷移。
Testing by the nation's top health agency has found high levels of formaldehyde in government issued travel trailers and mobile homes used as emergency housing in the Gulf Coast Region after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.
So, after denying for years that health problems of trailer occupants were caused by high levels of formaldehyde, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, today is hastening to move people out of 35,000 trailers and into other accomodations.
Formaldehyde is classified as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Exposure to low levels of formaldehyde may cause irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin. It is possible that people with asthma may be more sensitive to the effects of inhaled formaldehyde, according the federal Agency for Toxic Substances.
"As a result of preliminary findings FEMA will be taking additional actions to provide for the safety and well being of the residents of these travel trailers by finding them alternative housing," said FEMA Administrator David Paulison. "FEMA is leaning forward and will continue to act and provide information to our residents in an expedited manner."
"We're not going to wait for the final results but we're going to work to continue or expand our actions with the residents that need to be relocated," Paulison said. "We had a peak of almost 144,000 families in these travel trailers and 105,000 of those have already moved out."
Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said people who are sick should be on a rush list for removal from the trailers. "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," she said.
CDC's preliminary evaluation of a random sample of 519 travel trailers and mobile homes tested between December 21, 2007 and January 23, 2008 showed average levels of formaldehyde in all units of about 77 parts per billion, ppb. These levels are is higher than expected in indoor air, where levels are commonly in the range of 10-20 ppb. Some formaldehyde levels in the trailers were more than seven times the average of 77 ppb. Levels measured ranged from three ppb to 590 ppb.
"Long-term exposure to levels in this range can be linked to an increased risk of cancer, and as levels rise above this range, there can also be a risk of respiratory illness," the CDC said.
FEMA previously announced a plan to close all group sites and relocate residents by June 1 and will continue this activity, Paulison said. During the first week of February, 983 households moved out of temporary housing and FEMA continues to move between 800 and 1000 households out, on average, per week.
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
