How can I determine if the formaldehyde levels emitted from my laminate flooring product meet EPA's regulatory standards for composite wood products? If you wish to have a sample of your floor tested, you can contact a laboratory that has experience in this type of testing.
How is formaldehyde in flooring measured? To accurately recreate the conditions that may be present in a home or office, an environmental gas testing chamber is used. A sample of your laminate flooring will be placed within a chamber at a set temperature and humidity.
Not all laminate flooring releases high levels of formaldehyde. Also, studies have shown that after several years, formaldehyde released by products installed in the home may decrease to levels typically found in most homes.
Although levels of formaldehyde emissions from products like laminate flooring decrease over time, significant off-gassing may continue for months and even years. Significant off-gassing from laminate flooring can continue for months and even years.
The only real chemical of concern here is formaldehyde, and just about all laminate flooring is made with formaldehyde. Formaldehyde levels in laminate flooring are very low now. Melamine-formaldehyde offgasses less formaldehyde than urea-formaldehyde (Source). Many laminate brands are GreenGuard Gold certified.
Exposure to formaldehyde from laminate flooring in the home may cause irritation, cough, or shortness of breath, especially in children and people with asthma or other respiratory problems. Medical therapy should aim to alleviate symptoms and recommend actions to decrease further exposure.
Laminate flooring at The Home Depot is verified by either GREENGUARD® Gold or FloorScore® certification to contain 0.0073 ppm or less of formaldehyde, which is a stricter standard than CARB 2 of 0.05 ppm.
Formaldehyde is a colorless chemical with a strong pickle-like odor that is commonly used in many manufacturing processes. It easily becomes a gas at room temperature, which makes it part of a larger group of chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
People can generally smell formaldehyde before being adversely affected by it. Formaldehyde released from laminate flooring at levels that individuals can smell may affect their quality of life.
Wood. The best option of course is hardwood due to its natural durability and classic elegance. Just like the above example, wood is naturally sustainable that doesn't contain any trace of formaldehyde.
If you bought Tescun laminate flooring from Lowe's, you may be able to help get a class action lawsuit started against the company. Reports have surfaced that the store's Chinese-made laminate flooring contains toxic levels of formaldehyde, a chemical that can cause serious health problems with prolonged exposure.
As we mentioned, laminate flooring does contain adhesives. And generally, adhesives do contain VOCs. The good news is that you can find non-toxic laminate flooring by purchasing products that are GreenGuard Certified and that contain less than a certain amount of VOCs.
Cannot be refinished: Due to its composite construction and wear layer, a laminate floor can never be refinished. Once it has been damaged or worn out, laminate flooring must be replaced.
Spectrophotometric methods are most commonly used for determining the formaldehyde concentrations in indoor environments; chromotropic acid (4, 5-dihydroxy–2, 7–naphthalenedisulfonic acid) and pararosaniline are the most widely used reagents.
Healthier flooring options include solid wood, natural linoleum, cork, bamboo, tile and stone. A key feature of all of these is that they are easily cleaned of dust and dirt.
As levels increase, some people have breathing problems or irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, or skin from formaldehyde exposure in their homes. These health effects can happen in anyone, but children, older adults, and people with asthma and other breathing problems are more likely to have these symptoms.
At higher levels, formaldehyde exposure can cause skin rashes, shortness of breath, wheezing and changes in lung function.
Three effective ways of removing formaldehyde from your home are to open a window, use an air purifier with an activated carbon filter, or perform a home cookout.
Baking soda reduces odor and gently cleans clothes. To do this, pour some baking soda into the warm water, swirl it around gently to mix the ingredients, and submerge your clothes in the mixture for at least 8 hours to remove formaldehyde.
Why am I being warned about potential exposure to formaldehyde? Formaldehyde (gas) is on the Proposition 65 list because it can cause cancer. Exposure to formaldehyde can cause leukemia and cancers of the nose, throat, and sinuses.
A simple and effective way to reduce formaldehyde levels in the home is to increase air flow in the affected area by opening windows and doors. This lowers the level of formaldehyde by increasing the amount of outdoor air. Usually, the levels decrease and odors are gone within a few days.
Floating laminate flooring can be installed in nearly any room, with a few exceptions. Because the inner core of the material is made with wood or fiberboard that is susceptible to moisture damage, installations in any room with a floor drain or sump pump should be avoided.
When it comes to environmental impact, laminate has a slight edge over vinyl thanks to its recycled wood core. However, the melamine wear layer on the surface is still made of plastic, which may off-gas VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that can be harmful to people and pets.
Formaldehyde is a common component of new flooring. It is a gas that is released from different sources over time. While it has a strong smell, it can't be seen to the naked eye. Breathing in excess amounts of this gas can lead to sore throats, bad coughs, itchy eyes, and even nosebleeds.