Toxicity in Mobile Homes

Consumer concern about toxicity in RVs is an issue that is not diminishing, but rather growing in importance for health reasons, as there are a growing number of RV occupants who have experienced serious health problems and noticeable while living in trailers. Of most recent note is the large number of people left homeless after Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana.

In an attempt to provide immediate temporary housing for the many thousands who lost their homes, the federal government stepped in and provided hastily built mobile homes for many families until they could find their own permanent place to live. After several months of living in these temporary homes, many people began to notice health problems that they had never had before, such as asthma problems, upper respiratory problems, and a host of other strange symptoms. Many attributed these adverse reactions to the trailer homes they lived in, as they noticed a strong, acrid odor constantly emanating from the homes.

While this is a general example with no full scientific study to back up its claims as of yet, there is growing evidence that traditionally built mobile homes have an improper amount of chemicals mixed into the construction materials used to build them. Federal regulatory agencies have even reduced the amount of chemical toxins allowed in the construction of these homes since the 1980s.

Obviously, there has been concern backed by scientific evidence for quite some time about the negative health effects associated with living in most typical mobile homes, especially newer homes that still emit dangerous chemical fumes. So why don’t health experts and government regulatory agencies directly address the problem of toxicity in mobile homes? And why is the general public unaware of the dangers of this phenomenon?

The brief explanation is that excluding or banning the material used in the construction of these homes would severely hurt mobile home manufacturers and sales. There is a ‘Band-Aid’ regulatory provision regarding the chemical toxins used in the construction of these homes, but it doesn’t actually make the RVs as safe as they should be for consumers. Therefore, it is important that consumers are aware of what they are getting when they choose to purchase a new mobile home.

What is included in the construction of the typical mobile home? Particleboard is often used for siding, subflooring, and decking in most mobile homes. It is also used in the construction of kitchen and bathroom interior cabinets, as well as other areas. Vinyl is very often used to cover walls, floors and other surfaces to achieve a better finish.

Also, the glue is used in various places around the house. Carpets are also used to cover floors. Sounds normal right? The problem is that most of these substances have high levels of various chemicals that continue to outgas for years. Chemicals like formaldehyde are found in particle board and plywood. It is also found in carpets and various types of glues.

Petrochemicals are also found in vinyl and plastics, as well as some carpets. These are just some of the more toxic chemicals used in mobile home construction materials. That’s not to consider the various stains, paints, and sealers used in the construction process. If these chemicals can be dangerous to a person’s health, why are they constantly used?

Since mobile homes must be lighter for road traffic, many of these chemicals make it possible to build much lighter homes. Also, it is cheaper to use synthetic materials instead of natural materials such as solid wood. For health reasons, it is important to understand hereditary toxicity in mobile homes for those planning to buy a new one or who already live in a mobile home.