California Town Plagued by Birth Defects Potentially Linked to Toxic Waste

Environmental testing solutions for municipalities, industry and the general public are available from LA Testing.

Los Alamitos, CA

In California’s San Joaquin Valley sits the small town of Kettleman City. A news report from CNN last week reported on the unusually high level of birth defects in the small farming community. The population of approximately 1,500 has seen 10 babies born in the last three years with birth defects.

This rural town is surrounded by farms that utilize pesticides, poor air quality, drinking water that doesn’t meet EPA standards due to naturally occurring arsenic, vehicle exhaust from Highway 41 and four miles outside of town sites the largest toxic waste disposal site in the Western United States. Any one of these factors, or a combination of them, could be causing the high rate of birth defects.

Toxic waste often contains a host of heavy metals and can include chemicals such as PCBs. The health effects of many of these materials are well documented and include cancer, immune system suppression and a host of other problems. Four separate government agencies have inspected the waste disposal site and determined it is operated safely.

The arsenic, found in the town water, can also cause both short and long term health problems. Long term effects have been linked to various cancers. Pesticide exposure from surrounding farms could also be a factor and exposure to many pesticides has also been linked to cancer and various endocrine disruption issues in humans.

LA Testing, one of California’s largest environmental testing laboratories, has been providing testing services and supplies for all types of environmental testing needs. “LA Testing offers the most advanced testing solutions for pesticides, toxic waste and other environmental risks for the West Coast,” reported Ben Sublasky, National Director of Client Services for LA Testing and EMSL Analytical. “Municipalities, environmental professionals and even homeowners can utilize our testing solutions to answer their environmental questions.”

For additional information or to learn more about environmental testing services please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794.

About LA Testing and EMSL Analytical, Inc.
LA Testing and EMSL Analytical are providers of environmental testing services and products to professionals and the general public. The companies have an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.

Contact Information

Ben Sublasky

National Director of Clients Services/Operations Manager

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

Contact via E-mail