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Lead Testing Services

Category Press Release
Publish Date 9/21/2021
Author Paul Cochrane
Title Lead Exposure Hazards from Old Varnishes in Some California Properties
Introduction LA Testing provides material and indoor environmental quality laboratory services to identify lead exposure risks.

Huntington Beach, CA, September 21st, 2021

There is a chance that any home or building constructed in California before 1978 could contain lead-based paints, as this was the year that the federal government finally banned consumer use of lead-based paint.

Any deteriorating lead-based paint is a potential hazard that needs immediate attention. However, it’s not just lead-based paints that could be a lurking threat. Old varnishes in some cases are also known to contain lead. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reports that lead in varnish is typically found on floors, stairs, doors, windows, and wood trim, and even old baby cribs. Even if a varnish surface is intact, the child can swallow some lead by chewing on the varnished surface.

“Lead exposure can affect nearly every system in the body and is especially true for children,” said Joseph Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at LA Testing. “Kids are particularly vulnerable to lead exposure and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that no safe blood lead level in children has ever been identified. Therefore, it’s so important that people realize that varnishes, and not just lead-based paints, could be a hazard in some cases. People should be aware of this fact if any renovation or remodeling work is going to take place that creates dust that could be inhaled or enter a child’s body through hand-to-mouth actions.”

The good news is lead poisoning is entirely preventable if lead hazards are identified and properly handled. LA Testing provides lead testing services for air, soil, water, dust, surface, paint chip, and other material or environmental samples. Their California laboratories also offer all the sampling supplies needed and even carry easy-to-use test kits for lead and other common indoor environmental quality (IEQ) issues.

To learn more about lead or other IEQ testing services, sampling supplies, and products, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com, or call (800) 755-1794. For access to lead 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.

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