Wood laminate flooring sold by Lumber Liquidators contains excessive levels of the cancer-causing chemical formaldehyde, according to a recent 60 Minutes investigation.

More than 100 million square feet of the cheaper, Chinese-made wood flooring sold by Lumber Liquidators is installed in homes across the United States each year. The flooring used formaldehyde-rich glues and has failed to pass safety standards for toxic emissions.

If you or a loved one suffered serious cancer illness or death or a serious respiratory ailment potentially caused by exposure to wood flooring containing excessive formaldehyde levels, you should call our experienced product liability lawyers at 800-243-1100.

Kline & Specter has 60 attorneys, five of whom are also highly experienced doctors, who can help you determine if exposure to wood flooring sold by Lumber Liquidators caused a cancerous condition or a severe respiratory ailment.

Although a class-action lawsuit has been filed against the lumber company, Kline & Specter lawyers  represent clients in individual cases when they have suffered serious illness or death due to environmental- or product-caused cancer.

These cancers related to exposure to formaldehyde – levels can be measured in the body – can claim victims of any age.

The problem with wood flooring using glues laced with formaldehyde appears to affect only those products sold by Lumber Liquidators and made in China. American-made laminates sold by the lumber giant as well as flooring sold by stores such as Home Depot and Lowe’s did not contain high levels of formaldehyde when tested.

The chemical is present in glues used to bind wood particles which make up the core of the board, which is then covered with a solid laminate top. Formaldehyde emissions can leak past the laminate and into the air.

The 60 Minutes investigation was sparked by a report of wood flooring sold in California that was found to greatly exceed state formaldehyde safety standards. CBS then itself tested Lumber Liquidator flooring sold in New York, Illinois, Florida, Texas and Virginia and found almost all exceeded formaldehyde limits. Lumber Liquidators has stores in 46 states.

To watch the 60 Minutes program click here.

 CBS also created a video on what to do if you suspect formaldehyde in your flooring. Watch the video