FEMA Trailer
Indoor Air Quality and Health in FEMA Temporary Housing For Trailer Residents

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC) is responding to your concerns about air 
quality and formaldehyde in FEMA trailers.

You can take these steps to improve 
your indoor air quality:
1. Breathe fresh air 
• Open windows when you can to let in fresh air. 
• Spend as much time as you can outside, in fresh air.

2. Control mold 
• Clean your bathroom and kitchen often to 
ght mold. 
• Fix any water leaks in your trailer. 
• Clean up any mold you see or smell with a 
mix of no more than 1 cup of bleach mixed with 1 gallon of 
water. Never mix bleach with ammonia. 
• Close windows and run your air conditioner (AC) or your 
dehumidier to help control mold. This will reduce 
dampness that helps mold grow.

3. Other ways to improve the air in 
your trailer 
• Clean often to get rid of dust and pet fur, which can 
bother your nose and throat. 
• Try not to use bug sprays. When used in small spaces like 
FEMA trailers, the poisons that kill bugs also can bother 
your nose and throat or make you sick. 
• Do not smoke inside. Tobacco smoke contains 
chemicals that can bother your nose and 
throat and make you or anyone else who 
breathes it sick. 

Open Window
Mop and Bucket
No Smoking

Who is most likely to get sick from bad 
indoor air?
• People with asthma• People with allergies• People with lung disease such as bronchitis or 
emphysema• People with heart problems or disease• Children• Elderly peopleHow do I know if I’ve been exposed toformaldehyde?
If you have been exposed to formaldehyde you’ll have 
symptoms like those caused by mold or tobacco 
smoke:
• Eye, nose and throat irritation (burning, itching, 
tearing, and sore throat)
• Skin rash• Chest tightness, coughing and shortness of breathThese can also be symptoms of flu or allergies. If you 
have these symptoms, please see a doctor, if you can.

About CDCCDC is a federal public health agency based in Atlanta, GA. Our mission is to promote 
health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury and disability.

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