Feds Asked To Investigate Imported Laminate Flooring
By CapitalSoup.com // March 5, 2015
Senator Bill Nelson calls for testing
WASHINGTON, DC – In a letter sent earlier this week to the heads of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, the panel’s ranking member, called for independent testing of the laminate flooring.
Laminate flooring is found in millions of American homes because of its low cost and easy installment.
But a new report aired Sunday by CBS’ “60 minutes” found that laminate made in China and sold by retail giant Lumber Liquidators contained significant amounts of a formaldehyde, a toxic chemical that can cause cancer and lead to other ailments such as skin, eye, nose and throat irritations.
In the wake of the report, the leading Democrat on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation is asking the federal government to investigate whether the imported laminate poses a health risk to the public.
Nelson also wants to know whether the company made potentially false marketing claims about the product’s compliance with a California formaldehyde safety standard.
If the testing confirms high concentrations of formaldehyde, the solution may include having tainted flooring removed from people’s homes.
ABOVE VIDEO: A new report aired Sunday by CBS’ “60 minutes” found that laminate made in China and sold by retail giant Lumber Liquidators contained significant amounts of a formaldehyde, a toxic chemical that can cause cancer and lead to other ailments such as skin, eye, nose and throat irritations.
“Because this could affect millions of homeowners, it’s imperative we get some answers quickly,” Nelson said today.
Nelson is no stranger to dealing with household products that pose health risks. He was at the forefront of leading the effort to help consumers who had tainted Chinese drywall in their homes.
