Asbestos Concerns in Orange County Schools After Grand Jury Report

Recently, an Orange County Grand Jury released a report about the presence of asbestos in schools across the county. “Dealing with Asbestos in Orange County Public Schools,”  reported that over two-thirds of Orange County’s nearly 600 K-12 public schools have encapsulated asbestos present in one or more of the buildings on their school campuses.

The report also found that 27 of the 28 Orange County school districts have asbestos present in at least one of their schools or administrative buildings. The document states, “The Grand Jury strongly cautions that current EPA standards provide the mere presence of encapsulated asbestos at a school site does not present any immediate danger to school children or staff at the site.”

Asbestos was used in the past in many building materials found in schools, homes and commercial buildings. Mineral fibers from asbestos were often added to these materials to strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance. Exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. The risks of developing any of these conditions from exposure increases with the amount and type of fibers inhaled.

“Asbestos-containing materials are a concern because if they are disturbed or become friable with age, asbestos fibers may be released into the air which can then be inhaled by people,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “Even encapsulated materials can be disturbed, especially during renovation, remodeling and repair activities if people are not aware of its presence or fail to take the proper safety precautions.” 

Helping to protect building occupants from asbestos exposure risks throughout California is LA Testing. They offer comprehensive asbestos analysis from bulk materials, dust and air samples. LA Testing also provides all of the sampling supplies necessary to collect and submit a sample.

To learn more about asbestos testing or other environmental, indoor air quality, 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 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 laboratories throughout California including Huntington Beach, San Diego, San Leandro, Sierra Madre and South Pasadena.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

LA Testing

(1) 856-303-2503

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