Laminate Flooring Health Risks

Recently laminate flooring has been in the spotlight for emitting significant levels of formaldehyde which is in the glues used to bond together the layers of pressed wood laminate and the adhesives used for installation.

Laminate flooring health risks.

Laminate flooring is toxic because the wood bonding adhesive and top layer contain and emit chemicals which are harmful to our health. Laminate looring test results health issues and solutions the u s. How do i know if the wood products i m buying are safe. Will epa s rule address laminate flooring featured in the 60 minutes story.

Laminate flooring products are made using a plasticized picture or image of wood glued to fiberboard and as such cannot be sanded and refinished. Cpsc tested the same type of flooring that had some of the. Studies of workers who breathe in very high levels of formaldehyde over many years have shown a link to rare cancers. Although consumers force the industry toward more safe options still the following toxins are used to manufacture laminate flooring.

Toxic chemicals in flooring can be a significant source of indoor air pollution. In many cases the health risks associated with wood flooring are caused by other products used in the installation process such as adhesives or moisture barriers. The world health organization s international agency for. Report looks at risks from formaldehyde in products made in china.

Formaldehyde exposure from the tested laminate flooring would be much lower and would last for less time than the exposures linked to those cancers. Air pollution is now the world s largest single environmental health risk according to estimates. However some types of natural or engineered wood flooring come with extra health hazards. This increased laminate wood flooring health concerns among consumers.

Health risks from formaldehyde in some laminate wood flooring are 3 times higher than initially reported. The laminate flooring emitted formaldehyde levels that were several times higher than california regulations allow. Should i avoid engineered wood and laminate flooring. Many people didn t know that formaldehyde was in laminate flooring until 60 minutes reported on laminate flooring from lumber liquidators.

Choosing non toxic flooring for your home might sound like a simple task but unfortunately many of the flooring options available contain harmful chemicals. Installing wood flooring in your home may increase it s value and add beauty. Under the epa rule the flooring that was the subject of the 60 minutes story must be made with composite wood cores or platforms that are certified as compliant with the formaldehyde emission standards.