IH Project

1 Running head: FORMALDEHYDE EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT

Research Paper

Formaldehyde Study of FEMA Trailers Used Following Hurricane Katrina

Jane Doe

Columbia Southern University

MOS 6301 Week VIII

Professor William Bullock

March 20, 2013

FORMALDEHYDE EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT 2 Formaldehyde exposure from FEMA trailers used following Hurricane Katrina

Abstract

A worker exposure assessment for formaldehyde was conducted at the ACME IHS facility from

December 2007 to January 2008. Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast on August

29, 2005. This storm resulted in the evacuation of millions of residents and caused 1836 deaths.

Following the storm, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) procured over 144,000

travel trailers, park homes, and mobile homes for displaced families. The cost to set-up these

trailers were greater than 1.5 billion dollars. From the time that residents began occupying these

trailers, health complaints were recorded. People began filing law suits in 2007 against FEMA,

trailer manufacturers, and the set-up companies. The formaldehyde levels in the FEMA supplied

travel trailers were found to exceed the levels deemed safe for the general public.

Introduction

 Max Safetyman, Industrial Hygiene Specialist, ACME Industrial Hygiene Services, conducted a

quantitative exposure assessment for formaldehyde for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in

FEMA trailers used in Louisiana and Mississippi between December 21, 2007 and January 23,

2008. This exposure assessment was conducted to evaluate the potential exposures to

formaldehyde and determine occupants’ potential exposure from the off-gassing of free

formaldehyde from the materials of construction.

Area air sampling was performed in 42 Cavalier trailers as part of a stratified random

sampling plan established by the CDC. The levels of formaldehyde were determined by collecting

1-hour samples following the National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

method 2016.

FORMALDEHYDE EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT 3

Discussion

It has been known for a long time that formaldehyde in homes can present a hazard to

occupants health. Formaldehyde is frequently used in plywood, fiberboard, resins, glues,

carpets, and several other construction components. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety

Commission (CPSC) called for a ban on urea foam formaldehyde insulation (UFFI) in

March of 1982 (US CPSC, 1982). As a result, UFFI use dropped significantly by the mid

1980s. However, homes built before the UFFI ban might have this type of insulation.

The 1982 ban on UFFI contributed to the decreased levels of formaldehyde other

products as well. In the past, pressed wood products often contained urea-formaldehyde

resins. Today these resins are not as widely used. Instead, many pressed wood products are

constructed with phenol-formaldehyde products. Phenol-formaldehyde products off-gas

much less free formaldehyde than products manufactures with urea-formaldehyde resins

(US EPA, 2007).

Temperature, relative humidity (RH), ventilation, and age of house also contribute to

differences in measured formaldehyde levels (Park and Ikeda, 2006). Studies also show that

older homes have lower formaldehyde levels than do newer homes (Hodgson et al., 2000).

A 1985 U.S. study investigated formaldehyde levels in different types of housing (Stock

and Mendez, 1985). Formaldehyde levels in 38 conventional U.S. homes averaged 40 parts

per billion (ppb), with highs of 140 ppb. Nineteen apartments and 11 condominiums had

average formaldehyde levels of 80 ppb and 90 ppb, respectively, with highs of 290 ppb. A

more recent study of new homes found geometric mean (GM) formaldehyde levels of 34 ppb

in manufactured homes and 36 ppb in site-built homes (Hodgson et al., 2000). This study

FORMALDEHYDE EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT 4 suggested that formaldehyde levels in conventional homes have decreased greatly since the

1980s, possibly because of decreased use of plywood paneling and reduced emissions from

the composite wood products used.

In a recent study of 184 single-family homes in three cities, Weisel et al. (2005) found

mean formaldehyde levels of 3 ppb in outdoor ambient air; 17 ppb in home indoor air; and

16–25 ppb in trailers. Most homes have some detectible levels of formaldehyde, which

have decreased over the last 40 years (US CPSC, 1997).

Results

Formaldehyde was measured at a central location in the trailer, and different locations in the

trailer could have different formaldehyde levels. However, as a gas, formaldehyde is likely to

diffuse evenly throughout the trailer. Formaldehyde levels in the trailers in this study were

higher than average levels in U.S. mobile homes and traditional homes reported in recent

studies (Weisel et al., 2005). The average level of formaldehyde in all trailers was 77 ppb,

and many trailers had higher levels (range: 3 ppb–590 ppb). These are higher than U.S.

background levels, and occupant health could be affected at the levels recorded in many

trailers.

We collected a total of 42 samples inside Cavalier trailers located in Louisiana and

Mississippi (Table 1). The levels of formaldehyde were determined by collecting 1-hour

samples following the NIOSH method 2016. Descriptive statistics from this dataset (see

Figure 1) demonstrates that the results range from 14 – 32 ppb; with a median of 79 ppb,

mean of 94 ppb and a standard deviation of 61 ppb. Most samples were above the California

recommended level of 23 ppb (see Figure 2). In fact, the results exceeded this level 97

FORMALDEHYDE EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT 5 percent of the time. The 95th percentile level under the normal parametric statistics showed a

point estimate of 216 ppb (see Figure 3); a level almost 100 times the recommended level.

Table 1

Formaldehyde Sample Results

Sample Number SampleDate Resultppb CV06AL0268125 23-Dec-07 130 ACBC06AL0136873 27-Dec-07 250 ACBC06AL0137097 28-Dec-07 82 ACBC06AL031193 28-Dec-07 150 BC06AL0136636 28-Dec-07 130 ACBC06ALO136966 30-Dec-07 110 ACBC06AL0137006 31-Dec-07 86 CV06AL028009 31-Dec-07 47 BL06GA0213445 3-Jan-08 53 ACBC06AL0137072 4-Jan-08 44 ACBCOCAL01560178 6-Jan-08 170 BC06AL0136537 6-Jan-08 76 BL06GA0137541 7-Jan-08 91 ACBC06AL0137021 8-Jan-08 120 BG06NC143533 8-Jan-08 35 ACBC06AL0136893 9-Jan-08 180 ACBC06AL0137142 9-Jan-08 110 ACBC06AL0137079 10-Jan-08 58 ACBC06AL013916 10-Jan-08 320 BC05AL0134788 10-Jan-08 76 CV06AL0266988 10-Jan-08 44 B06NC143103 11-Jan-08 68 CV06AL0268002 11-Jan-08 71 BL06GA0137959 12-Jan-08 56 BLO6GA0137439 12-Jan-08 14 ACBC06AL031100 13-Jan-08 75 ACBC06AL031114 13-Jan-08 32 BC06AL0136560 13-Jan-08 100 BG06NC143098 13-Jan-08 50 BL06GAP137753 13-Jan-08 30 BCO6AL0136639 14-Jan-08 78 BG06NC14302 14-Jan-08 43 BG06NC143174 14-Jan-08 78 CV06AL0457806 14-Jan-08 38 ACBC06AL031153 16-Jan-08 120 BLO6GA0213366 16-Jan-08 42 ACBC06AL031178 17-Jan-08 120 ACBC06AL0137093 18-Jan-08 200 CV06AL0266902 18-Jan-08 130 BC06AL0136571 19-Jan-08 82

FORMALDEHYDE EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT 6 BL06GA0137471 20-Jan-08 81 CV06AL0261820 21-Jan-08 80

Figure 1

Figure 2

FORMALDEHYDE EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT 7

Figure 3

Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that formaldehyde levels in the FEMA trailers were higher

than typically found in US homes and trailers. In addition, the levels probably underestimate

the occupant exposures in the initial months following the hurricane because the levels of

formaldehyde that off-gas decreases over time. In addition, we would expect the levels

during the winter months to be lower than in the spring and summer due to higher

temperatures (i.e., higher temperatures liberate more formaldehyde from building materials).

Based on this, we can state that it was very likely that formaldehyde levels in FEMA trailers

supplied to displaced residents following Hurricane Katrina represented excessive levels of

exposure for the general public.

FORMALDEHYDE EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT 8

References

Hodgson AT, Rudd AF, Beal D, Chandra S. 2000. Volatile organic compound concentrations and emission rates in new manufactured and site-built houses. Indoor Air 10(3): 178–92.

International Agency for Research on Cancer. 2004. Press Release N 153; June 15. Available from: http://www.iarc.fr/ENG/Press_Releases/archives/pr153a.html.

Malaka T, Kodama AM. 1990. Respiratory health of plywood workers occupationally exposed to formaldehyde. Arch Environ Health 45(5):288–94.

National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), (2003) Manual of Analytical Methods. Retrieved from : http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2003-154/

Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), (2008), Formaldehyde Reference Exposure Levels. Retrieved from: http://oehha.ca.gov/air/toxic_contaminants/pdf_zip/formaldehyde_112508.pdf

Park JS, Ikeda K. 2006. Variations of formaldehyde and VOC levels during 3 years in new and older homes. Indoor Air (16):129–135

Stock TH, Mendez SR. 1985. A survey of typical exposures to formaldehyde in Houston area residences. AIHA J 46(6):313–7.

US Consumer Product Safety Commission (US CPSC), (1982). Release # 82-005. Retrieved from: http://classaction.findlaw.com/recall/cpsc/files/1982mar/82005.html.

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), (2007). Indoor Air Quality—Formaldehyde. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html#Look6 on January 15th, 2008.

Weisel CP, Zhang J, Turpin BJ, Morandi MT, Colome S, Stock TH, et al. 2005. Relationships of indoor, outdoor, and personal air (RIOPA). Part I. Collection methods and descriptive analyses. Research Report (Health Effects Institute) (130 Pt 1):1–107; discussion 109–27.

World Health Organization (WHO), (1989). Environmental health criteria for formaldehyde. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; Volume 89.

 

 

 

 

 

FORMALDEHYDE EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT 9  

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX A

HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION

AND

SAMPLE METHODOLGY

Formaldehyde

Health Effects

Symptoms from acute exposure to formaldehyde commonly manifest as irritation of the throat,

nose, eyes, skin, and upper respiratory tract. This upper respiratory tract irritation can exacerbate

symptoms of asthma and other respiratory illnesses (EPA, 2007).

Acute and chronic health effects of exposure to formaldehyde vary by individual. Typically

olfactory recognition occurs around 500 ppb, leaving the average exposure from a home below

this level. Sensitive and sensitized persons can experience symptoms without detecting odor and

thus receive little or no warning of exposure (Weisel et al. 2005).

In addition to acute health effects from formaldehyde, chronic effects in occupational settings

have been studied. A study of 186 male plywood workers associated formaldehyde exposure

with several respiratory symptoms, including cough and chronic bronchitis, and suggested that

formaldehyde exposure induces symptoms of chronic obstructive lung disease (Malaka and

Kodama, 1990).

FORMALDEHYDE EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT 10 The carcinogenicity of formaldehyde has been extensively studied during the last 30 years. In

June 2004, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reclassified formaldehyde

from “probably carcinogenic to humans” to “carcinogenic to humans.” IARC has concluded that

formaldehyde exposure causes nasopharyngeal cancer (http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Meetings

/88-formaldehyde.pdf). However, the National Institutes of Health National Toxicology Program

has not adopted IARC’s classification change and continues to classify formaldehyde as

“reasonably anticipated to be a carcinogen in humans”

(http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/eleventh/profiles/s089form.pdf).

Regulations and Standards of Formaldehyde Levels

No federal regulation or standard exists for formaldehyde levels in residential settings.

Occupational levels are not appropriate to apply to residential settings for a variety of reasons.

For example, residential populations include children and elderly persons and thus are more

diverse than occupational populations and possibly more susceptible to illness from exposure

because of preexisting health conditions. Exposure times and circumstances in homes can vary

substantially from those in occupational settings.

The World Health Organization guideline for formaldehyde in non-occupational settings is 100

ppb for 30 minutes. This guideline was developed to protect against sensory irritation in the

general population, but it also represents an exposure level at which risk for upper respiratory

tract cancer in humans is negligible (WHO, 1989). The State of California Office of

Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) guideline for formaldehyde is less than

typical ambient levels, it recommended an office level of 23 ppb. (OEHHA, 2008).

FORMALDEHYDE EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT 11

Sampling Method

Formaldehyde Sample Collection

Investigators and FEMA field workers were present for each scheduled sampling appointment.

Investigators collected a 1-hour sample of air in each participating trailer using the NIOSH

Manual of Analytical Methods Method 2016 using Supelco S10 LpDNPH cartridges (St. Louis,

MO) (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nmam/pdfs/2016.pdf). Staff also measured indoor temperature

and RH. In an attempt to standardize living conditions between trailers, residents were asked to

configure doors and windows as they would have them while they slept. No cooking or smoking

was allowed in the travel trailers or mobile homes during the 1-hour sample collection period

because these activities could affect formaldehyde levels.

Samples were collected using standard industrial hygiene pumps. Samples were drawn at a flow

rate of 500±50 mL per minute for 1 hour at a height of 4 feet, which is comparable to a

person’s breathing zone while sitting. An investigator observed sample collection at all times.

Investigators followed all quality assurance and quality control standards as outlined in the

standard operating procedures for field collection.

Samples were analyzed for formaldehyde levels at the Bureau Veritas laboratory in Novi,

Michigan. The Bureau Veritas laboratory is a contract laboratory for NIOSH and follows NIOSH

data quality objectives in its sampling and analysis. (NIOSH, 2003).

 

FORMALDEHYDE EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT 12

APPENDIX B

SAMPLING SUMMARY REPORTS

AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Industrial Hygiene Statistics For trial and testing only - Please do not distribute