CDC: Elevated cancer risk in Lumber Liquidators laminate flooring

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Certain types of laminate flooring made by Lumber Liquidators (LL) have a greater risk of causing cancer or other health problems than previously believed, U.S. health regulators said Monday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday that people who purchased the China-made flooring are about three times more likely to get cancer than it had calculated earlier this month — a revelation that rattled investors, who sent Lumber Liquidators stock down 16.3% to $11.89 at 1:24 p.m.

The CDC had said on Feb. 10 that formaldehyde levels in select versions of the company's laminate flooring could cause two to nine cancer cases per 100,000 people. The actual figure is six to 30 cases per 100,000 people, the CDC said Monday.

Lumber Liquidators sells more than $120 million annually in laminate flooring, including products from the U.S. and Europe, though last year it suspended sales of China-made laminates after accusations of carcinogenic qualities surfaced.

In addition to cancer, people are also susceptible to increased risks of exacerbated respiratory issues such as asthma and eye, nose and throat irritation, the agency said.

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