San Diego Homes & Businesses Suffer Water Damage Following November Deluge

The first week of November brought heavy rains to residents of San Diego County.  The deluge flooded intersections, collapsed retaining walls, and caused flooding and water damage to numerous residential and commercial properties.  

Property managers and owners with water damage need to address the moisture quickly to prevent indoor environmental quality issues from developing. While properties that suffered flood damage may already have microbial and chemical contaminants inside, those that suffered water damage due to leaks can develop mold problems in as short as 48 hours if materials are allowed to remain wet.  

“The presence of mold growing almost anywhere in a building can lead to indoor air quality problems and health concerns for building occupants,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Garden Grove facility. “When mold spores and fragments are inhaled they can trigger asthma in some people and cause allergic reactions in many others. Some types of mold associated with water-damaged buildings can even cause infections in people with a weakened or suppressed immune system.”   

Another concern for older properties is the potential for asbestos-containing materials and lead-based paints. These hazardous materials could become aerosolized in water damaged structures during clean-up, demolition and repair activities.     

To help identify mold and other microbial contaminants, as well as lead-based paints and asbestos, LA Testing has several laboratories in the Los Angeles area and a facility in San Diego that operates under the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network. They also offer consumer-friendly indoor environmental test kits that can be obtained at www.EMSLTestKits.com.  

To learn more about water damage, mold and indoor air quality testing or other environmental, occupational, health and safety issues, please visit www.LATesting.com, email  info@LATesting.com  or call (800) 755-1794. To contact the San Diego laboratory directly, please call (858) 499-1303.

About LA Testing

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other substances.  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, CDC ELITE, 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, Sierra Madre, Garden Grove, San Leandro and San Diego.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

LA Testing

(1) 8563032503

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