An assessment of formaldehyde emissions from laminate flooring manufactured in China

• Formaldehyde emissions from two laminate flooring products were evaluated.
• Mean concentrations after installation were 0.038 and 0.022 ppm for Products 1 and 2.
• Small chamber deconstructive testing was performed to evaluate CARB compliance.
• Despite an exceedance of the CARB limit, adverse health effects would not be expected.

Formaldehyde emissions from two laminate flooring products, labeled as California Air Resources Board (CARB) compliant, were evaluated. Passive 24-hr samples (n = 79) and real-time measurements were collected following installation and removal of the products in two rooms of similar size. Mean formaldehyde concentrations following installation were 0.038 and 0.022 ppm for Products 1 and 2 respectively, and 7 days after flooring removal the concentrations returned to background pre-installation levels. Both products were also evaluated in a small chamber (ASTM D6007) using Deconstructive (de-laminated product) and Non-Deconstructive (intact product) methods. Deconstructive testing showed that Product 1 exceeded the applicable CARB emission standard by 4-fold, while Product 2 was equivalent to the standard. Non-Deconstructive measurements were far below the Deconstructive results and were used to predict 24-hr steady-state room air concentrations. Based on the products that we tested (one of which was found to not be compliant with the CARB standard), the airborne formaldehyde concentrations measured following installation in a real-world setting would not be expected to elicit adverse acute health effects.