Is Formaldehyde Dangerous In Laminate Flooring

Report looks at risks from formaldehyde in products made in china.

Is formaldehyde dangerous in laminate flooring.

Laminate flooring that is a hardwood plywood or is made by attaching a wood veneer with formaldehyde based resin to a composite wood platform are subject to the epa s proposed regulations. Formaldehyde is more common in laminate flooring where it s found in the adhesive and resin. Not necessarily because the amount of formaldehyde in the laminate flooring if present can vary due to how the flooring is made. On february 18 2016 a release from the centers for disease control cdc announced that formaldehyde exposure from certain types of laminate flooring is more problematic than previously thought.

Cpsc tested the same type of flooring that had some of the highest formaldehyde levels in tests conducted during a. Health risks from formaldehyde in some laminate wood flooring are 3 times higher than initially reported. The investigation was prompted by a march 2015 60 minutes report that revealed the company s laminate flooring made in china had higher levels of formaldehyde gas than allowed by law. People who make products containing formaldehyde or use the products regularly in their work are more vulnerable to overexposure.

Hardwood is not to be confused with laminate flooring which was called out in a 60 minutes story back in march 2015. The flooring giant lumber liquidators was accused of selling illegally sourced laminate wood with high levels of formaldehyde a known carcinogen. Formaldehyde used in laminate flooring. Formaldehyde is normally present at low levels usually less than 0 03 parts per million ppm in both outdoor and indoor air.

Formaldehyde is an ever present colorless gas that can give off a pickle like smell. Formaldehyde occurs naturally in the environment but it can be both dangerous and safe. Phthalates have so far been a necessity in polyvinyl chloride pvc flooring. Consumer product safety commission cpsc tested formaldehyde levels released from specific types of laminate flooring made in china between 2012 and 2014 and sold at lumber liquidators stores in the united states.

It has been commonly used in home products for decades in everything from certain types of wood flooring to. Formaldehyde is present in a lot more things than expected. It has been used in home products and even in wood flooring detergents paint fabric and wallpaper.