| Consumer concern about toxicity in mobile homes | | | | the material used in the construction of these |
| is an issue that is not dwindling but is rather | | | | homes would seriously hurt manufacturers and |
| growing in importance for health reasons since | | | | mobile homes sales. A 'band aid' regulatory |
| there is an increasing number of mobile home | | | | provision is in place regarding chemical toxins used |
| occupants that have experienced noticeable | | | | in building these homes, but really doesn't make |
| serious health issues while living in trailers. Of most | | | | house trailers as safe as they should be for |
| recent note is the many numbers of people who | | | | consumers. So, it's important for consumers to be |
| were left homeless in the aftermath of Hurricane | | | | aware of what they are getting when they |
| Katrina in Louisiana. | | | | choose to purchase a new mobile home. |
| As an attempt to provide immediate temporary | | | | What goes into the construction of the typical |
| homes to the many thousands who lost their | | | | house trailer? Particle board is often used in the |
| homes, the Federal government intervened and | | | | sheathing, subflooring and decking of most mobile |
| provided quickly built house trailers for many | | | | homes. It is also used in the construction of the |
| families until they could find their own permanent | | | | interior kitchen and bathroom cabinetry as well as |
| place to live. After several months of living in | | | | other areas. Vinyl is very often used to cover the |
| these temporary homes, many people began to | | | | walls, floor and other surfaces to make for a |
| notice health problems that they had never had | | | | better looking finish. |
| before such as asthmatic problems, upper | | | | Also, glue is used in various places throughout a |
| respiratory issues and a host of other strange | | | | home. Carpeting is used to cover floors as well. |
| symptoms. Many attributed these adverse | | | | Sounds normal doesn't it? The problem is that |
| reactions to the mobile homes in which they lived | | | | most of these substances have a high level of |
| since they noticed a strong, pungent odor that | | | | various chemicals that continue to de-gas for |
| constantly emitted from the homes. | | | | years. Chemicals such as formaldehyde is found in |
| While this is a general example without complete | | | | particle board and plywood. It's also found in |
| scientific study to back up their claims as of yet, | | | | carpeting and various types of glues. |
| there is mounting evidence that traditionally built | | | | Petrochemicals are also found in vinyl and plastics |
| mobile homes have an undue amount of | | | | as well as some carpeting. This is just a few of |
| chemicals laced throughout the building materials | | | | some of the most toxic chemicals used in the |
| that are used to construct them. Federal | | | | building materials of mobile homes. That's not to |
| regulatory agencies have even reduced the | | | | consider the various stains, paints and sealants |
| allowed amount of chemical toxins allowable in the | | | | used in the construction process. If these |
| building of these home as far back as the '80s. | | | | chemicals can be dangerous to a person's health, |
| Obviously, there has been a concern backed up | | | | then why are they consistently used? |
| by scientific evidence for quite some time about | | | | Since mobile homes need to be lighter in weight |
| the negative health effects associated with living | | | | for road transit, many of these chemicals make it |
| in most typical mobile homes, especially newer | | | | possible to build the homes much lighter in weight. |
| home that still emit dangerous chemical fumes. So | | | | Also, it's cheaper to use synthetic based materials |
| why isn't the issue of toxicity in mobile homes | | | | rather than natural materials such as solid wood. |
| directly addressed by health experts as well as | | | | It's important for health reasons to understand |
| government regulatory agencies? And why isn't | | | | inherit toxicity in mobile homes for those who plan |
| the public commonly aware of the dangers of this | | | | on purchasing a new one or are already living in a |
| phenomenon? | | | | house trailer. |
| The short explanation is that to exclude or ban | | | | |