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Global Asbestos Awareness Week and Protecting California’s Workers and Residents from Exposure Risks

Asbestos Testing Services

Category	Press Release
Publish Date	4/4/2023
Author	Paul Cochrane
Title	Global Asbestos Awareness Week and Protecting California’s Workers and Residents from Exposure Risks
Introduction	LA Testing provides asbestos testing services, sampling supplies, test kits and personal protective equipment to identify and mitigate exposure hazards to asbestos-containing materials.
Huntington Beach, California, April 4, 2023 Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW) takes place the first week of April and this year’s theme is “Asbestos: One Word. One Week. One World.” It marks the 19^th observance of the week-long campaign designed to raise awareness of the dangers associated with asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a mineral fiber that was used in numerous building materials for decades. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that “asbestos” is a commercial name, not a mineralogical definition, given to a variety of six naturally occurring fibrous minerals (chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, actinolite and any of these materials that have been chemically treated or altered). “Anyone can be exposed to asbestos fibers through inhalation or ingestion from asbestos-containing materials that have become friable or are disturbed during renovation, remodeling or demolition activities,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “This is due to the fact that asbestos can separate into microscopic-size particles that remain in the air for an extended period. People exposed to asbestos may develop several types of life-threatening diseases, including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Asbestos-containing materials are most likely to be found in schools, homes and other buildings constructed between approximately the 1930s and the 1970s.” In California, homeowners, property managers, environmental professionals and others can turn to the experts at LA Testing to identify asbestos exposure hazards. Their laboratories provide asbestos analyses from air, dust, water, soil, surface and bulk material samples. They also offer all of the sampling supplies needed, easy-to-use test kits, air monitoring instruments and carry a comprehensive range of personal protective equipment (PPE). Last year, LA Testing sponsored an educational video about Global Asbestos Awareness Week that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/CBv3JSJXVdQ To learn more about asbestos or other building science and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. For access to IEQ test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com. About LA Testing LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor environmental quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.