Huntington Beach, CA, April 6th, 2020
Earlier this year, multiple media outlets reported that a community pool in California, north of Los Angeles, was temporarily closed after debris at the bottom of the pool was found to contain asbestos. The pool is used by residents and several nearby high schools who have now been moved to another aquatic facility.
While at the time of the pool closure notice the source of the asbestos-containing debris was not revealed, in many pool facilities it could have come from a number of sources. For example, ceiling tiles, textured paint, patching compounds, dry wall, sheet rock, insulation and many other materials in older facilities may contain asbestos.
Asbestos and expanded vermiculite, another mineral that may contain asbestos in some circumstances, was also used in concrete mixes for swimming pools. In the neighboring state of Arizona, the Maricopa County Government website states, “The most common pool construction materials that may contain asbestos are cementitious materials (e.g. gunite, shotcrete) and plaster.”
While wet asbestos at the bottom of a pool may not be an immediate threat, exposure to asbestos fibers in the air can lead to lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. The emergence of these conditions may sometimes take 10 to 15 years or longer to manifest themselves in exposed individuals.
“Due to the past widespread use of asbestos in countless building materials and even pools, exposure hazards still remain in many residential, commercial and institutional properties all across California and the rest of the United States,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “To identify these threats, the scientists and laboratory personnel at LA Testing offer asbestos analyses from building materials and air, dust, water, soil and surface samples. We also provides all of the sampling supplies needed, easy-to-use test kits and carry a comprehensive range of personal protective equipment (PPE).”
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 air 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-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), 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, San Diego and Ontario.