Water Leak at California Middle School Temporarily Closes Kitchen

In April, Valley News published a report about the closure of a school kitchen at a middle school in Temecula, California. According to the article, the closure occurred after a water leak was discovered behind a sealed access panel in the kitchen area. The leak damaged building materials and the school district responded with a temporary closure of the area so that indoor environmental testing could be conducted along with repair work.

When a leak goes unnoticed for even a short period of time, the damage to a property can be substantial. Over time, a small leak can release a significant amount of water. Even a small amount of water in a wall cavity, below the floor or above the ceiling, can result in the growth of mold in less than 48 hours if the materials are allowed to remain wet or the moisture results in high humidity levels.

If mold growth does occur, even mold growing out of sight can often impact the indoor air quality. For students and faculty, breathing elevated levels of mold could cause health concerns as exposure to high levels of mold can irritate the respiratory system, cause allergies, trigger asthma in some people who suffer from the condition, and certain types of mold can even cause infections in some people with a weakened or suppressed immune system.

“Responding to a water leak immediately can help prevent a potential mold issue from getting even worse,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Garden Grove facility. “If a water leak has occurred, do not assume there is no mold just because you cannot see it. Mold often grows in areas such as in walls, under cabinets, under flooring and other locations impacted by a leak. Air and surface testing can often identify the presence of elevated levels of mold even when people cannot see it with their own eyes.”

LA Testing provides mold sampling supplies, consumer test kits and comprehensive analyses to help protect building occupants from these exposure risks. They have also sponsored an educational video about health issues that can be caused by breathing mold which can be seen at: http://youtu.be/61eTg1WfJHo.

To learn more about mold and indoor air quality testing or other environmental, occupational, health and safety issues, please visit www.LATesting.com, email  info@LATesting.com  or call (800) 755-1794. For access to consumer-friendly indoor environmental test kits, please visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.

About LA Testing

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for 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, NVLAP, CDC ELITE, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple lab.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

LA Testing

(1) 856-303-2503

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