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Study of Public Housing in San Francisco Looks at Mold, Lead & Childhood Asthma


Garden Grove, CA – WEBWIRE

Last month, The San Francisco Examiner published an article about a recent study of the health of children living in the city’s public housing.  According to the study results reported in the article, children that live in public housing that has not been renovated are 39% more likely to repeatedly visit hospital emergency rooms as compared to children living in renovated public housing or private homes.
 
Four years of data from over 5,700 children beginning in 2007 and concluding in 2011 was examined by the researchers.  The article also states that the researchers’ findings “corroborate anecdotal and limited data” linking mold and lead in dilapidated housing with lead poisoning and childhood asthma.
 
Mold is a known asthma trigger and buildings with high humidity levels or those that have suffered from water damage may contain high levels of mold. Other asthma triggers that may be present in poorly maintained homes include cockroaches, dust mites and rodents.  Even pet dander and tobacco smoke can trigger an attack.
 
Lead poisoning is entirely preventable and if a building was constructed before 1978, it may contain lead-based paint.  It is the deterioration of this paint that causes a significant problem.  Children under the age of six years old are at high risk because they are growing so rapidly and they tend to put their hands or other objects that may be contaminated with lead dust into their mouths. 
 
“Living in conditions with elevated levels of mold, other allergens and asthma triggers will often impact the health of building occupants,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Garden Grove facility, a leading indoor environmental testing laboratory. “The same is true for properties with lead-based paints.  At LA Testing, we offer sampling supplies and testing services to identify these and other indoor environmental pollutants.  Knowing what is present is the first step in fixing the problem so that everyone, regardless of income, can live in a healthy home.”
 
LA Testing recently sponsored an online video about common indoor air quality pollutants that can be seen at: http://youtu.be/MM14B6dzYYg.
 
To learn more about testing for any of these contaminants or other IAQ and environmental 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 food testing and indoor 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, 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, Garden Grove, San Leandro and San Diego.
 



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 mold testing
 lead testing
 childhood asthma
 public housing health
 indoor air quality tests


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