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Lumber Liquidators shares were slammed in March 2015 after a “60 Minutes” report alleged that Chinese-made laminate flooring from Lumber Liquidators installed in many American homes contained far higher than accepted levels of formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.
Today's announcement comes after Lumber Liquidators suspended the sale of Chinese-made laminate flooring in May 2015 and announced its decision not to sell about 22 million board feet of this flooring.
8. Lumber Liquidators® is providing test kits for formaldehyde in indoor air to customers who purchased their laminate flooring.
The following types of Lumber Liquidators lumber may contain excessive and illegal amounts of formaldehyde: 8 mm Bristol County Cherry Laminate Flooring. 8 mm Dream Home Nirvana French Oak Laminate Flooring. 12 mm Dream Home Kensington Manor Antique Bamboo Laminate Flooring.
When formaldehyde is present in the air at levels exceeding 0.1 ppm, some individuals may experience adverse effects such as watery eyes; burning sensations in the eyes, nose, and throat; coughing; wheezing; nausea; and skin irritation.
Lumber Liquidators marketed its Morning Star Bamboo Flooring as being “extremely durable” and free of defects for at least 30 years. A class action lawsuit filed in California, however, alleges that the flooring may undergo cracking, splitting, warping, and shrinking much sooner than the warranty claims.
According to Home Depot, “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.”
About half of Lumber Liquidators' products are manufactured in China.
The best options are real hardwood, polished concrete, and tile. But specific brands of natural linoleum, carpet, and engineered wood are excellent choices as well. There are many choices for non-toxic flooring suitable for the chemically sensitive or the health-conscious homeowner.
Formaldehyde is more common in laminate flooring, where it's found in the adhesive and resin. However, formaldehyde is also a concern in vinyl flooring, although its levels tend to be lower than in laminate flooring.
Porcelain and Ceramics. Porcelain and ceramic are safe if lead-free and do not contain radioactive substances. It is also formaldehyde free.
Solid hardwood flooring is considered the safest and least toxic option as it's completely natural and free from any toxins. Solid hardwood floors are made of planks milled from a single piece of timber.
Laminate flooring is made using adhesives and that is why it releases formaldehyde gas, which could be toxic to you, kids, and even pets. Most laminate products off-gas for about 10 years but some brands have a very low level of the toxic gas that is considered safe for flooring.
To wrap it up, you have to know that vinyl plank floors are not that toxic not unless you get a heavy expose. Also, most companies today choose to make vinyl planks that are not toxic elements or free of phthalates. So, don't worry about buying them because they will be safe to use.
FSC CERTIFIED PLYWOOD. Okay. The first item one our list of non toxic materials is FSC certified plywood. I looked it up online and Home Depot has Columbia Forest Products plywood.
The short answer is, yes. Laminate flooring is toxic. Laminate flooring is made through wood bonding with adhesives that can be very toxic to humans and animals. It consists of a melamine resin formaldehyde, which is often close to the surface of the laminate.
Phthalates are known toxins, exposing both humans and pets to the risk of asthma, cancer, kidney, lung, and even reproductive health problems. Thus, Vinyl plank flooring is toxic and easily contaminates indoor air, water, and surfaces.
Like all engineered hardwoods, engineered bamboo flooring uses non-toxic trace amounts of urea-formaldehyde during manufacturing, but it is generally in meager, safe quantities. These quantities are roughly equivalent to the levels used in household and office furniture and cleaning products.
How Much Is Formaldehyde In Bamboo Flooring? Despite formaldehyde being classed as a V.O.C (Volatile Organic Compound), it is only dangerous when found at high levels. Most high-quality bamboo flooring brands contain little or no formaldehyde on their floors.
Most bamboo floors are safe given that formaldehyde is harmful only when found in large quantities. Formaldehyde is used in several everyday items ranging from dining tables and kitchen cabinets, to laundry softeners and dishwashing soaps. As long as the emission level is low, it's safe.
Formaldehyde is a highly toxic systemic poison that is absorbed well by inhalation. The vapor is a severe respiratory tract and skin irritant and may cause dizziness or suffocation. Contact with formaldehyde solution may cause severe burns to the eyes and skin.
Enzymes in the body break down formaldehyde into formate (formic acid), which can be further broken down into carbon dioxide. Most inhaled formaldehyde is broken down by the cells lining the mouth, nose, throat, and airways, so that less than a third is absorbed into the blood.
Health Effects of Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. High levels of exposure may cause some types of cancers.