Comment: This is some good information and certainly helpful in exploring the myriad of places formaldehyde may lurk besides FEMA trailers. Formaldehyde is often missed as a contaminant in the home.
That 'new' smell could be fumes: Solutions rid homes of formaldehyde
"Years ago, people were proud to have people come over and smell their new house," said Frank Laskey, president of Capital Construction in Ballston Spa. "That new car smell, there was some cache attached to that." Now, experts realize that the smell is actually the off-gassing of formaldehyde, a common chemical that is a possible carcinogen and can trigger allergies when people are trapped indoors with it. <snip> But the gas that forms the main ingredient in glues used in plywood, particle board, paneling, insulation, paint and carpeting is not just a problem in FEMA trailers. Cigarettes, permanent press fabrics and gas stoves also give off formaldehyde. <snip> The good news is that it goes away. Carpets and fabrics off-gas formaldehyde for between six months and three years, and wood products do so for three to five years, Laskey said. The bad news is that until it does dissipate, people who are sensitive to it may experience irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and skin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
