FEMA claims everyday activities may be the cause of dangerously high levels of formaldehyde found in six of the “KGAN 20.”

"If there's a problem with the mobile home the levels have gone up since they moved into it, there's something that may have been introduced into that home."

That's what FEMA told Laurie Barrick. Her mobile home had the highest levels according to our tests.

"They told me that it was something that I probably brought into the trailer," said Barrick.

According to FEMA, cooking, cleaning, even items like candles, air fresheners and dry-cleaned clothes can increase formaldehyde levels.

But University of Iowa Professor Peter Thorne, who assisted our tests, disputes FEMA's claims.
First, cooking.

"I've not read that we normally considered cooking to be a source of formaldehyde,” he said. "With electric stoves you wouldn't expect that."

Recent research supports Thorne. Most cooking activities "Don't contribute much, and would yield little increase in formaldehyde."

Some candles contain formaldehyde, but the California Environmental Protection Agency, which has done significant research on formaldehyde, says they would probably not create a measurable increase.

While some air fresheners and cleaning supplies do emit formaldehyde, the California EPA says "when people use the products under ordinary circumstances, their exposure will normally not each maximum exposure levels."

Two more claims debunked. So, what about dry-cleaning?

"If you use a lot of dry-cleaning, when you bring that into your home, that can affect the levels," said FEMA Representative Wali Armstead.

Peter says that's simply not true.

"Dry cleaning these days doesn't involve formaldehyde so that's not normally figured to be a source of formaldehyde like it was 20 years ago," said Thorne.

Five area dry cleaners all agree. They say unequivocally they do not use formaldehyde in their dry cleaning process.

It leaves the families with the dangerous formaldehyde levels with few options.

"The trailers have to get fixed, whether it's by scrubbing, whether it's...whatever," said Barrick. “I've learned one thing, you don't take no for an answer."Debunking FEMA's Formaldehyde Claims