California Residents Learn that Popular Flooring Products May Contain High Levels of Formaldehyde

In early March, “60 Minutes” broadcasted a report about Chinese laminate flooring sold by one of the nation’s largest flooring retailers.  According to the show, more than 100 million square feet of the laminate flooring is installed in homes across America each year. 
 
The investigative report found that many of the Chinese-made laminate flooring products contained high levels of formaldehyde. Over 100 boxes of laminate flooring was purchased from stores across California and the show reported that the average level of formaldehyde found was over six times the state standard.
 
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) sets the standard for the amount of formaldehyde emissions that can come from flooring and other materials.  The California Composite Wood Products Regulation requires finished goods made with hardwood plywood (HWPW), particleboard (PB) and medium density fiberboard (MDF) to comply with the regulatory requirements and to be labeled as such.  The laminate flooring tested in the report all showed that they were CARB Phase 2 Compliant on the boxes. 
 
“Recently, the National Research Council, a part of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, issued its assessment of formaldehyde’s ability to cause cancer and upheld the listing of formaldehyde as known to be a human carcinogen,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Garden Grove facility.  “When people install new laminate wood flooring in their home or business, they should not be exposed to potentially dangerous levels of the chemical.  Young children can be especially vulnerable as they spend so much time on floors.  At LA Testing, we offer services to identify formaldehyde from manufactured materials and taken from indoor environments to protect people from needless exposure to formaldehyde and other hazardous substances.”  
 
To learn more about formaldehyde or other indoor air quality (IAQ) testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. 
 
About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals.  In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states.  LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Garden Grove, San Leandro and San Diego.

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