Industrial Hygiene Testing Services

Huntington Beach, CA, August 11^th, 2020

In July, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced that during the previous 18 months it settled 44 cases involving air quality violations by consumer product manufacturers that exceeded the state’s limits for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). CARB estimates the settlements mitigated more than 172 tons of excess VOC emissions and 24 tons of toxic air contaminant emissions.

According to CARB’s Enforcement Division Chief Todd Sax, “These products are used daily in almost every California household. Manufacturers don’t normally sell directly to consumers, but they do control product formulations. Manufacturers need to notify their sales partners of their products’ compliance status so that consumers are protected before the product is even sold.”

The off-gassing of VOCs from consumer products, building materials and furnishing can result in health concerns. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that key signs or symptoms associated with exposure to VOCs may include conjunctival irritation, nose and throat discomfort, headache, allergic skin reaction, dyspnea, declines in serum cholinesterase levels, nausea, emesis, epistaxis, fatigue and dizziness.

“The consumer products involved in the CARB settlements ranged from hair sprays and air fresheners to solvents,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “Many consumer products, regardless of whether they are in liquid or solid form, can emit VOCs. These can not only cause exposure concerns on their own, many can also react with other pollutants and sunlight to form ground-level ozone and smog.”

For manufacturers in California, and for those that sell products within the state, LA Testing’s network of laboratories offer product off-gassing and indoor air quality (IAQ) testing services for VOCs. These services help to protect consumers and can be essential for keeping companies in compliance with the state’s VOC regulations. LA Testing has even sponsored an educational video about VOCs and IAQ that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/DlbDI1ZfdTg.

To learn more about VOCs or other consumer product, environmental, health and safety testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. 

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.