Asbestos Testing Laboratory

Huntington Beach, CA, April 19^th, 2019

California’s NBC 7 broadcasted an investigative report earlier this year that had many area firefighters and union officials concerned. According to their newscast, thousands of firefighters may have been exposed to asbestos over many years at a California Fire Academy.

A city in California took possession of the buildings in question several decades ago from the U.S. Navy. The buildings were then repurposed by the fire department as a training facility. In a memorandum published by the city last year, asbestos-containing materials were indeed found in at least four of the buildings. The materials included vinyl floor tiles, mastic adhesives and some pipe insulation. Lead glazed wall tiles were also identified in one of the buildings where live-fire exercises were conducted.

“According to the memorandum, asbestos-containing materials were disturbed in the past during firefighter training activities and posed a health and safety risk,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “Exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. The emergence of these conditions sometimes takes 10 to 15 years or longer to manifest themselves in exposed individuals.”

Unfortunately, due to the widespread use of asbestos in countless building materials, hazards such as this still remain in many residential, commercial and institutional properties across California and the rest of the United States. To help identify potential asbestos hazards of all types, LA Testing offers asbestos analyses for building materials, air, dust, soil and surface samples. LA Testing also provides all of the sampling supplies needed, which are easy-to-use test kits and a comprehensive range of personal protective equipment (PPE).

To learn more about this or other occupational, environmental, air quality, health and safety testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. To access test kits for asbestos, lead and other indoor environmental quality concerns (IEQ), 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 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.