On 60 Minutes, Anderson Cooper investigates the laminate flooring that’s in thousands of American homes. Chinese-made laminate flooring sold in Lumber Liquidators outlets in the US contains toxic formaldehyde which is a chemical known to cause cancer. According to the non-profit organization Global Community Monitor, these products from Chinese factories “emit toxic gas in excess of 100 times California standards.” Formaldehyde is a common ingredient in the glue used in laminate flooring. “During and after installation, it is released as a gas that causes burning eyes, nose and throat irritation, coughing, headaches, dizziness, joint pain and nausea. At long-term exposure, formaldehyde is listed as a known cause of cancer in humans by both the federal government and the State of California.”
GCM has filed a lawsuit against Lumber Liquidators (NYSE:LL) as the company claims on its website that “all of its flooring comes from mills certified as compliant with California’s standards for formaldehyde.” Lumber Liquidators has 344 stores in 46 states and had sales of more than $1 billion in 2013. Anderson Cooper’s report will air on Sunday, March 1, 7pm on CBS.
