title: An assessment of formaldehyde emissions from laminate flooring manufactured in China.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Cardno ChemRisk, 30 North LaSalle Street Suite 3910, Chicago, IL 60602, USA. Electronic address: jennifer.pierce@cardno.com.
authors.forename: Jennifer S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.affiliation: Cardno ChemRisk, 30 North LaSalle Street Suite 3910, Chicago, IL 60602, USA.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abelmann
authors.affiliation: Cardno ChemRisk, 30 North LaSalle Street Suite 3910, Chicago, IL 60602, USA.
authors.forename: Jason T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lotter
authors.affiliation: Cardno ChemRisk, 30 North LaSalle Street Suite 3910, Chicago, IL 60602, USA.
authors.forename: Peter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Ruestow
authors.affiliation: Cardno ChemRisk, 20 Stanwix Street Suite 505, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Unice
authors.affiliation: Cardno ChemRisk, 30 North LaSalle Street Suite 3910, Chicago, IL 60602, USA.
authors.forename: Evan M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Beckett
authors.affiliation: Cardno ChemRisk, 30 North LaSalle Street Suite 3910, Chicago, IL 60602, USA.
authors.forename: Heidi A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Fritz
authors.affiliation: Cardno ChemRisk, 20 Stanwix Street Suite 505, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bare
authors.affiliation: Cardno ChemRisk, 231 Front Street Suite 202, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA.
authors.forename: Brent L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Finley
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008420:Manufactured Materials / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005557:Formaldehyde
keywords: CARB compliance; Exposure assessment; Formaldehyde; Laminate flooring; Small chamber testing