• Manufactured homes can pose safety risks.mobiles homes 6 image by Marc Rigaud from Fotolia.com
  
  Manufactured homes are often a less expensive alternative to traditional forms of housing. According to the Manufactured Housing Institute, manufactured homes can be built for up to 35 percent less than a comparable traditional home. However, manufactured homes present health and safety risks that have been acknowledged by the National Center for Healthy Housing and other agencies.
  
  

Fires

• According to the U.S. Fire Administration, in a typical year manufactured homes account for 17,700 fires resulting in hundreds of deaths and $155 million in property losses. According to the agency, there is a fire-death rate that is 32-50 percent higher than the rate for other dwellings. Some of the materials used to make manufactured homes are combustible, increasing the likelihood of a fire and the resulting health risk.
  
  

Formaldehyde

• Formaldehyde is a significant respiratory irritant and health threat, according to the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH). Some materials used in the construction of some manufactured homes, such as plywood and particle board, contain formaldehyde, according to the NCHH. The National Cancer Institute reports that some studies have suggested that formaldehyde exposure is associated with certain types of cancer.
  
  

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

• Thomas Greiner, associate professor of engineering at Iowa State University, told ABC News in 2009 that poor ventilation in manufactured housing can lead to an increased risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. He said some manufactured homes have inadequate furnace vents, raising the possibility of a buildup of low-level carbon monoxide poisoning from a malfunctioning furnace. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas and can cause brain damage and death, according to emedicine.com. In 2007, the U.S. Fire Administration recommended that carbon monoxide alarms be placed in manufactured housing in addition to smoke alarms.