FEMA Announces Trailer Air Testing Plans

Woods represents the family of Desiree Collins, 47, a Renaissance Village resident who died July 2, about a week after she was found to have lung cancer.

On behalf of Collins' husband and children, Woods asked a federal judge to certify a class-action lawsuit _ not against FEMA, but against companies that sold trailers to the agency. Collins said his suit is one of several in Louisiana _ none of which has yet been certified class-action.

"It's still at a very early stage in the litigation," he said.

In May, the Mississippi chapter of the Sierra Club issued a nonscientific report saying its tests revealed high formaldehyde emissions in dozens of trailers in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Chapter co-chair Becky Gillette said she is concerned that FEMA's response to the problem appears limited to conducting more tests.

"The remedy is still just far down the line for the tens of thousands of folks still living in the trailers," Gillette said.

Formaldehyde is used in some materials in the trailers. It can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and skin, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

FEMA said it will open on Saturday a toll-free hot line to answer questions about the formaldehyde issue and associated FEMA housing concerns, he said. The toll-free number is 866-562-2381.

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Associated Press writers Mike Kunzelman in New Orleans and Shelia Byrd in Jackson, Miss., contributed to this report.

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On the Net:

FEMA formaldehyde fact sheet: http://www.fema.gov/