Wood flooring is common in homes, apartments and other buildings throughout Orange County. Whether a person chooses wood flooring for its style and good looks, or because of more functional considerations, it is probably not something they spend much time thinking about once the floor is installed and finished. Based on some recent reports, however, some people who have wood flooring are likely second-guessing the safety of it.
A national news story last year revealed that certain wood laminate products that were made in China contain dangerous levels of formaldehyde. The laminate wood flooring was sold by Lumber Liquidators, which dubs itself the largest specialty retailer of hardwood floors in the country. A group within the U.S. Centers for Disease Control warned that the formaldehyde in the flooring could cause increased cancer risks, as well as breathing problems and irritation for certain people exposed to it.
The initial report stated that the dangers of the laminate wood flooring applied only to high-risk groups of people. After re-analyzing the data, however, the CDC issued a revised report stating that the formaldehyde in the flooring posed greater risks than it first suspected.
Prior to the revised CDC report, the State of California had pressed the issue about the problematic flooring, and Lumber Liquidators agreed to pay $2.5 million to settle regulatory claims.
When reports surface about injuries and illness related to unsafe products like the wood flooring in this case, the people who have suffered harm can pursue a products liability claim against the manufacturer. Nobody should have to worry that the flooring in their home is exposing them or their family to an increased risk of cancer or other illness.
Source: Fortune, “This Laminate Wood Flooring May Be Worse For You Than Previously Thought,” Laura Lorenzetti, March 23, 2016
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