We were gratified by the response we received from members and the general public who read our articles on the FEMA Trailers / Formaldehyde issue. We learned a great deal from you as well as from our own research. Here are the facts that have emerged over the course of the ongoing controversy:

Fact:   Some of the trailers purchased by FEMA to house Katrina victims tested high for indoor air formaldehyde content. (According to EPA standards for manufactured homes, although those standards did not legally apply to the RV industry at the time.)

Fact:    Some FEMA trailer occupants became ill as a result of breathing formaldehyde fumes in the confined space of a trailer. Children and the elderly were particularly susceptible. Lawsuits have been initiated against FEMA and certain RV manufacturers.

Fact:    Some of our members have experienced similar symptoms with new (and not-so-new) RVs, including motorhomes.

Fact:    It is always imperative to thoroughly air out a new RV or any RV that has been closed up for a long period — especially if it has been sitting in hot, damp weather. Good ventilation is a must.

Fact:    The outgassing of formaldehyde dissipates over time to a negligible level. Generally, an older RV that has been well ventilated and maintained should not be a threat to health. The operative word is "generally."

Fact:    Not all formaldehyde-containing products are created equal. Manufacturers DO know this. One manufacturer even had a warning sign posted on a bathroom mirror.

Fact:    CDC testing of air quality in FEMA trailers in 2008 revealed Pilgrim, Gulf Stream, Keystone, and Forest River trailers as the worst offenders.

Fact:    Pilgrim, Gulf Stream, Keystone, and Forest River are thriving in spite of the general downturn in RV sales. Keystone, for example, claims to be #1 in retail towable sales and Forest River has plans for expansion while a significant number of other manufacturers are downsizing.

Fact:    The RV industry as a whole has adopted HUD standards for indoor air quality of all RVs. It is expected that federally-required standards will soon be set for trailers. Meanwhile, the RVIA is claiming to require more rigorous air-quality standards ( California Air Resource Board ) as a condition for membership.

Fact:    All the negative publicity has lit a fire under manufacturers' butts — and all it took was a handful of hurricane victims speaking out, along with a few curious reporters. Gulf Stream has just announced that it is currently complying with CARB standards for formaldehyde emission levels. FEMA has also indicated that all potential emergency housing units will be tested for air quality prior to occupancy. Reform is in the air — instead of formaldehyde.

Fact:    Good changes can come about when people communicate their concerns.