Home »

CDPH Warns Californians of Potential Health Issues Caused by Exposure to Wildfire Smoke

Fire and Smoke Damage Testing Services

Category	Press Release
Publish Date	8/9/2024
Author	Paul Cochrane
Title	CDPH Warns Californians of Potential Health Issues Caused by Exposure to Wildfire Smoke
Introduction	LA Testing provides air testing services, sampling supplies, test kits, monitoring instruments, and personal protective equipment to identify and mitigate exposure to respiratory hazards associated with wildfire smoke.
Huntington Beach, California, August 9, 2024 Last month, the California Department of Public Health published a warning for Californians affected by wildfire smoke to take steps to protect their health. The agency reminded residents that air pollutants from wildfires affect everyone, but certain groups are at elevated risk. According to CDPH: With wildfire smoke and reduced air quality affecting many California communities, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is urging Californians to take steps to protect themselves from air pollutants. Wildfire smoke can affect anyone’s health, but some people are at higher risk, including pregnant people, children, older adults, first responders, and people with chronic conditions like asthma, COPD, diabetes, kidney disease or heart disease. “Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of gases and particles from burning vegetation and other materials,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “As a wildfire burns, many different compounds are released into the air. These may include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, particulate matter (PM), benzene, acrolein, and aldehydes. Exposure can cause many symptoms, such as eye and throat irritation, wheezing, and coughing. It can also worsen other illnesses, such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and heart and blood vessel diseases. During pregnancy, exposure to wildfire smoke can even affect fetal development according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It is also important to note that wildfire smoke can react with urban air pollution to create extremely unhealthy conditions, and the pollutants can make their way indoors.” LA Testing, with multiple laboratories in California, provides air testing services, sampling supplies, test kits, air monitoring instruments, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to help in these situations. They have even sponsored an educational video about wildfire smoke and protecting outdoor workers that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/DCCc5ZuMDf4 To learn more about air testing and monitoring resources, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com, or call (800) 755-1794. To access indoor environmental quality 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.