Short-term Health Effects

Irritation and breathing problems can happen in anyone, but children, older adults, and people with asthma or other breathing problems are more likely to have these symptoms.

If you installed this type of flooring in a home that already had elevated levels of formaldehyde from other products (like cabinets, furniture, or curtains), your chance of having those symptoms increases.

Long-term Health Effects

Studies of workers who breathe in very high levels of formaldehyde over many years have shown a link to rare cancers. Formaldehyde exposure from the tested laminate flooring would be much lower and would last for less time than the exposures linked to those cancers. However, whenever you are exposed to a cancer-causing chemical, your cancer risk increases.

We estimated the increased lifetime risk of cancer based on

Installing flooring with the highest formaldehyde levels

Breathing in formaldehyde at those levels in the house all day long for two years

Note: We chose a two-year time frame because several studies have shown that indoor air concentrations of formaldehyde from new building products usually decrease over time, particularly during the first two years.

We estimated the cancer risk to be between 6 and 30 extra cases for every 100,000 people breathing in formaldehyde from this type of flooring all day, every day. To put these numbers into perspective, the American Cancer Society estimates that up to 50,000 of every 100,000 people may develop cancer from all causes over their lifetimes.

The laminate flooring in my home was made in China between 2012 and 2014 and purchased at Lumber Liquidators®. What should I do?

The study only tested formaldehyde levels on a few types of floorboards. 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. However, if your flooring is new or you have concerns about formaldehyde in your home, you can lower the amount by taking the following steps.

Reduce formaldehyde already in the home.

Open windows for a few minutes every few days to let in fresh air — unless you have asthma triggered by outdoor air pollution or pollen or you’re concerned about safety.

Install and use exhaust fans as much as possible.

Keep the temperature and humidity inside your home at the lowest comfortable setting.

Make your home smoke free. Tobacco smoke contains formaldehyde, so don’t allow anyone to smoke in your home.

Choose home products with low or no formaldehyde for future purchases. Look for

Furniture, wood cabinetry, or flooring made without urea-formaldehyde (UF) glues

Pressed-wood products that meet ultra-low emitting formaldehyde (ULEF) or no added formaldehyde (NAF) requirements

Products labeled “No VOC/Low VOC” (volatile organic compound)

Insulation that does not have UF foam

Reduce formaldehyde from new products.