Indoor Air Pollution and Low Income Housing in South Los Angeles

Last month, California’s KCET published a report about indoor air pollution concerns in low income housing found in many parts of South Los Angeles.  The article’s main focus was on pest infestations and how landlords’ responses can cause tenants to be exposed to harmful pesticides. It discussed ways that improper pest control measures can compound already unhealthy living conditions and that when the root cause of an infestation is not addressed there are no long-lasting results. 
 
Pesticides emit pollutants such as hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These pollutants can contribute to health problems that may impact people living in homes that have been treated improperly or repeatedly. 
 
“Prevention of pests through the removal of water, food, hiding places and ways for them to enter a home are essential for long-term pest control,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Garden Grove facility, a leading indoor environmental testing laboratory. “Ongoing spraying of pesticides can expose residents to hazardous chemicals and the failure to actually eliminate pests, such as insects and rodents, can also cause allergies, respiratory issues and trigger asthma in some people. At LA Testing, we offer indoor environmental quality testing services and sampling supplies to identify pesticides, volatile organic compounds, allergens, environmental asthma triggers and mold.  Knowing what is present is the first step to identifying an indoor environmental issue so that tenants can live in a healthy home.” 
 
LA Testing has sponsored an online video about pesticides and indoor air quality that can be seen at: http://youtu.be/WKe-RsJUNa4.
 
To learn more about testing for pesticides, VOCs, mold, allergens or environmental asthma triggers, 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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Joseph Frasca

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LA Testing

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