Condemned Pacifica Apartments Demolished before Lead and Asbestos Debris Could Cause Additional Hazards

In March, the City of Pacifica had an apartment building demolished before it crashed down an eroding cliff onto the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean. The 20 apartments located in the structure had been condemned back in 2010 after severe erosion of the coastal bluff it was built on threatened the destruction of the building.

City officials had hoped the building’s owner would demolition the property, but he has since filed for bankruptcy. The city was then forced to proceed with the demolition, but not before addressing lead, asbestos and other safety concerns.

The apartment building was constructed in the 1960s when the use of lead-based paints and asbestos-containing materials were still a common occurrence. If the controlled demolition project had not taken place and the buildings had fallen down the eroding cliff, asbestos and lead contaminated dust and debris could have contaminated the seashore and surrounding apartment buildings.

“With the knowledge that asbestos and lead-based paints were present, this controlled demolition project had to take a number of safety precautions to protect workers and nearby residents,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Garden Grove facility. “It is a reminder that lead and asbestos hazards exist in thousands of demolition projects that occur each year in California, as well as for the countless home repair and renovation activities that take place. People need to know if exposure risks are present before a project or demolition activity begins and testing can quickly provide the answer.”

LA Testing provides real-time monitoring equipment for particulates and a wide range of bulk material, air and dust sampling services to identify potential hazards. These may include asbestos, lead-based paints, mold, PCBs, mercury and other materials. LA Testing has also sponsored an educational video about demolition projects and potential air quality concerns that can be seen at: http://youtu.be/iEc924Xq3ds.

To learn more about material and air quality testing services or other environmental, occupational, health and safety issues, 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 substances.  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, Sierra Madre, Garden Grove, San Leandro and San Diego.

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