Lead and Metals Testing

Huntington Beach, California, August 4, 2023

In June, the Los Angeles County District Attorney reported that a scrap metal recycling business and its owners have been charged with 21 felony counts of knowingly disposing hazardous waste at a site with no permit and one felony count of deposit of hazardous waste. 

According to the District Attorney’s office, some of the hazardous waste was deposited on the grounds of a high school in Watts. It was also shared that soil samples taken from an area of the high school adjacent to the recycling facility showed excessive concentrations of lead and zinc, and that additional samples taken at the facility found excessive concentrations of seven metals.

“This case highlights the potential for dusts contaminated with lead or other heavy metals to make their way onto neighboring properties due to wind or runoff from rain,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “In this instance it was onto school grounds where hundreds of children go to school. It’s a serious exposure risk and these same airborne dusts could also potentially enter a school or other building through open doors, windows, and air intakes. Contaminated dust that has settled on the ground can even be tracked into a building by people.”

Fortunately, there are ways to test and monitor for heavy metals from these types of facilities to help ensure the health and safety of not only nearby residents, but also for the employees of these businesses. In California, LA Testing operates multiple laboratories that provide environmental, material, and industrial hygiene testing for lead, zinc, and other heavy metals. They also offer sampling supplies, air monitoring instruments to measure dust levels, easy-to-use test kits, and personal protective equipment. These resources can not only help to protect people and the environment, but they can also be essential for helping business owners comply with health and safety regulations to avoid costly fines and legal action.

To learn more about this or other environmental, air quality, health and safety testing resources, 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 environmental, indoor air quality and material testing for mercury, 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.