Huntington Beach, California, May 1, 2024
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that as recently as 2021, almost 2,700,000 Californians suffered from asthma and 352 died from the disease that year alone. No other state has more people living or dying from the chronic lung disease.
According to the California Air Resources Board (CARB): There are many asthma triggers in addition to air pollution. These include pollens, dust mites, animal dander, and fragrances, among others. Typically an individual asthmatic responds to a unique subset of asthma triggers. Air pollution is a well-documented asthma trigger for some asthmatics; however, the role air pollution plays in initiating asthma is still under investigation and likely involves a complex set of interactions between indoor and outdoor environmental exposures and individual genetic susceptibility.
To increase awareness about the disease, and provide information about ways asthmatics can manage their condition by preventing or mitigating exposure to environmental asthma triggers, the month of May is designated as Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. This year, May 7th is also recognized as World Asthma Day.
“The good news is many asthma attacks can be prevented if people with the disease avoid exposure to environmental asthma triggers,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “Identifying and mitigating exposure risks to elevated concentrations of asthma triggers, airborne allergens and respiratory irritants is a key part of managing many respiratory conditions. To help in this effort, LA Testing offers air and indoor environmental quality laboratory testing services, sampling supplies, easy-to-use test kits and air monitoring instruments. These resources can detect a wide range of environmental asthma triggers and airborne pollutants.”
LA Testing sponsored an educational video about Asthma Awareness Month and World Asthma Day several years back that can still be seen at: https://youtu.be/37Ss6i9ohtM
To learn more about air and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) testing services and resources, 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 environmental and indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, bacteria, 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.