Consumer concern about RV toxicity 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 notorious while living in trailers. Of more 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 quickly 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 mobile homes they lived in, as they noticed a strong, pungent odor constantly emanating from the homes.
While this is a general example without a full scientific study to back up its claims thus far, there is growing evidence that traditionally built mobile homes have an undue amount of chemicals mixed into the building materials used to build them. Federal regulatory agencies have even reduced the amount of chemical toxins allowed in the construction of these houses since the 1980s.
Obviously, there has been a 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 not aware of the dangers of this phenomenon?
The short 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 regulatory ‘band-aid’ provision regarding the chemical toxins used in the construction of these homes, but it doesn’t really make RVs as safe as they should be for consumers. Therefore, it is important for consumers to be 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 in the siding, subflooring, and decking of most mobile homes. It is also used in the construction of interior kitchen and bathroom cabinets, as well as in other areas. Vinyl is very often used to cover walls, floors, and other surfaces for 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 a high level of various chemicals that continue to degas 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 a few of the more toxic chemicals used in mobile home construction materials. That’s not to consider the various stains, paints, and sealants used in the construction process. If these chemicals can be dangerous to a person’s health, why are they constantly used?
Since mobile homes need to be lighter for road traffic, many of these chemicals make it possible to build much lighter homes. In addition, 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 purchase a new one or already living in a mobile home.
