60 Minutes Is Right To Raise Questions About Lumber Liquidators' Toxic Floors
Last night CBS ran a 60 Minutes segment on dangerous levels of formaldehyde in laminated floor wood sold by Lumber Liquidators. This caught my attention this substance is hazardous to human health. Formaldehyde can cause cancer and other ailments including skin and breathing problems.
Formaldehyde is the sort of toxic substance to which people may be exposed without knowing they’re at risk. It’s a good example of why we need to bolster monitoring and regulation of chemicals used in industry – for the protection of both workers and consumers.
Formaldehyde is a colorless and flammable chemical. Both Europe’s IARC and the U.S. National Toxicology Program classify formaldehyde as a human carcinogen. The naturally-occurring substance is used and concentrated in industries including the manufacture of pressed woods, glue and preservatives. Formaldehyde can leak out from office and home products in gaseous form, and be inhaled.
“Most environmental causes of cancer are of sufficiently low risk that we don’t notice them in our daily lives,” said Dr. Bernard Goldstein, a physician, toxicologist and former dean of the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. But we do know that chemicals like formaldehyde cause harm, he said in an interview last year.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/elaineschattner/2015/03/02/60-minutes-is-right-to-raise-questions-about-lumber-liquidators-toxic-floors/
