Huntington Beach, CA, August 25th, 2021
Elementary school students will be learning in portable classrooms this year at one school in Northern California as their old building is being torn down and replaced. The school district decided to replace some of the classrooms after mold and structural issues were discovered last year according to reports.
A roof leak is believed to be a source of moisture that led to mold growth. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much for mold to begin to grow indoors when moisture is present; countless schools in California and across the nation are facing similar challenges. Other common causes include faulty HVAC installations, broken plumbing, flooding, and humidity issues.
“Most wet or moist building materials, furnishings, and even personal belongings will support the growth of mold in as little as 48 hours,” said Joseph Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at LA Testing. “Exposure to mold is a concern because at elevated concentrations it can cause respiratory issues. A common response is to have an allergic reaction which could be immediate or delayed. Allergic responses may include hay fever-like symptoms such as headache, sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash. For some asthmatics, mold exposure can trigger an asthma attack. Mold is also an irritant that can cause issues with the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of individuals whether or not they are allergic to it.”
The scientists at LA Testing provide mold and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) testing services to help school districts across California that face these types of situations. Their laboratories offer environmental, material, and industrial hygiene testing services for mold and other challenges often faced by schools, including asbestos, lead, and radon. LA Testing also provides sampling supplies, easy-to-use test kits, air monitoring instruments, building inspection tools, and even personal protective equipment.
To learn more about indoor environmental quality and industrial hygiene 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.