Today, there are a lot of vinyl flooring brands in the market. This is because vinyl flooring is easy for mass production and is highly demanded in the market due to its cost-effectiveness compared to solid hardwood flooring.
Homeowners should be equipped with knowledge about the health and safety aspects of vinyl flooring as well. Eventually, there will be more and more quick-profit-minded manufacturers who will produce vinyl floors massively that are of lower quality and harmful to human health in the long run.
Some vinyl flooring has impregnated a certain amount of toxic phthalates and other chemicals, which will produce harmful oxide emission such as formaldehyde that are harmful to children’s health. So, what are the harmful effects of formaldehyde?
According to a UK health report, it states that formaldehyde can affect one’s well-being when he or she breathes in its vapour or touch the liquid. It may cause harmful side effects such as eye irritation, asthma attacks, skin rashes and persistent coughing. Studies have shown that formaldehyde can cause cancer on tested animals.
With that said, consumers need to assure that the vinyl flooring that they are going to install in their homes must be tested for formaldehyde. “E1 Emission” is the ideal grade for vinyl flooring as it indicates that the flooring has very low formaldehyde emission. Anything that is above “E1 grade” will have high levels of formaldehyde. It is advisable for the consumer to ask the vinyl flooring vendor for proof of test reports.
Vinyl flooring is a good way to furnish the home with little investment. However, consumers need to make sure that the vinyl floor is safe and healthy to live with on a long term basis. At the end of the day, investing in quality eco laminate flooring brands is essential as it can impose a great impact on both your physical and mental health.
