California Mall Faces Asbestos Abatement

LA Testing provides asbestos testing services to ensure construction and remediation projects across California do not cause indoor air quality (IAQ) problems from asbestos.

Garden Grove, CA

During the busy holiday shopping season in December, a broken sprinkler pipe burst causing flooding at the Garden Walk Mall in Chico, California. Not only did the flooding from the broken pipe happen at an unfortunate time during the holidays, but during water cleanup activities asbestos was discovered.

According to articles about the event, the floor tiles damaged in the flooding contained asbestos. The asbestos abatement is now being handled in two phases with all merchants scheduled to be back to regular business by early March.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber mined from the Earth. In the past it was regularly added to building products to increase strength and corrosion resistance as well as to provide insulation and fire resistance. The use of asbestos was banned from most products in the United States in the 1980s, but many older building materials still remain.

LA Testing, an affiliate of EMSL Analytical and a leading provider of environmental testing services, has extensive experience providing asbestos testing solutions to ensure people are protected from asbestos exposure. The company has been providing asbestos analyses since 1981 and currently operate over 30 laboratories across the United States and Canada.

“Exposure to airborne asbestos fibers increases the risks of developing diseases such as lung cancer and mesothelioma,” reported Ben Sublasky, National Director of Client Services for LA Testing and EMSL Analytical. “The amount and type of asbestos fibers inhaled also impacts occupants’ health risks. When materials that contain asbestos are disturbed, asbestos fibers can be released into the air. If inhaled by the building’s occupants and abatement workers they would then be at risk for developing asbestos related diseases in the future. Testing suspect materials and air quality is necessary to ensure asbestos containing materials are being handled and disposed of properly.”

To learn more about asbestos, mold or other 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