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Most of the laminate flooring is made in China and may not meet U.S. health and safety standards. High levels of formaldehyde, according to the report, maybe carcinogenic. According to the founder of the company, Tom Sullivan, the Chinese manufacturers certified in writing that the laminate flooring made by them met U.S. standards. However, when interviewed for the 60 Minutes report, those same Chinese manufacturers said the laminate flooring leaving their manufacturing plants did not meet the standard. 60 Minutes commissioned testing of 30 boxes of Lumber Liquidators laminate flooring. These 30 boxes were labeled compliant. However, they were not. Some of the floorings emitted as much as 136 times the CARB2 (California Air Resources) limit.

According to CBS News, there are many calls for an immediate federal investigation of this issue, and Florida Senator Bill Nelson is pushing the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) to test the flooring independently.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) provides the following information in their paper titled, "What You Should Know about Formaldehyde":

If a person breathes too much formaldehyde it can make them feel sick. They may have such symptoms as sore throat, cough, scratchy eyes, nosebleeds. Some people are more sensitive than others making some people have no problems while other people become sick or uncomfortable. If a person is more sensitive to formaldehyde and is exposed to more of it for a longer period of time, they are more likely to have symptoms. If exposed to less formaldehyde for a shorter time, you may be less likely to have symptoms. Formaldehyde is a known cause of cancer with the cancer being of greatest concern is cancer of the nose and throat. The CDC further states that exposure to formaldehyde might increase the chance of getting cancer even at levels too low to cause symptoms.

There are other factors in addition to the level of formaldehyde that can be of concern. Those factors are age and health conditions.

Age - Exposure to formaldehyde is a special concern for children and the elderly. The CDC recommends that if children or the elderly are in the home with formaldehyde that it is important to reduce their exposure as children may become sensitive for formaldehyde more easily and the elderly may not be able to tolerate high formaldehyde exposures.

Health Conditions - People with asthma, bronchitis or other breathing conditions are especially sensitive to formaldehyde as it irritates the airways. Also, people with other chronic diseases may not be able to tolerate formaldehyde exposure. Pregnant women and their unborn children should also be careful about exposure even if they may not be at higher risks. 

"Companies selling products to consumers have the responsibility of being sure their products will not harm the consumer. If you, or a loved one, have been exposed to formaldehyde through laminate flooring and are suffering the effects of this exposure, please contact our firm for a free consultation," said Fort Myers Defective Product Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Defective Product Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and Collier County 239.793.7748.