Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Trailer Park as Community / toxicity issues

[jehako (jehako]

Hi-

I was present at the Congressional hearing on the post Katrina trailers in MS 
and LA and I have attended briefings from CDC scientists. The answer to whether 
the air in a trailer is or can become toxic is nuanced. Any newly constructed 
dwelling can become toxic if is too tightly sealed, subjected to extreme heat 
and humidity, improperly ventilated, and the doors and windows are not opened 
more than a couple of times a day. This is particularly true for a small 
dwelling. And many of the trailers you heard about were not really dwellings, 
but travel trailers.

If you get a mobile home built to post 1994 HUD standards from a reputable 
source, ventilate it, and properly maintain it, I think the air inside will be 
as "safe" as indoor air is expected to be. Not as good as a super green 
dwelling or most outdoors locations, but good enough.

-Jessie Handforth Kome
Eastern Village Cohousing
Silver Spring. MD
"Where the new baby just arrived"

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