Arsenic Contaminated Soil Concerns in Beverly Hills

Earlier this month, the Beverly Hills Courier published a report about a tree clearing project that recently took place on vacant land near Santa Monica Boulevard. The reason this project made the news is because the soil at the location is known by the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to have elevated levels of arsenic. With the vegetation now gone, area residents and city officials are concerned about exposure risks to the public.  

The vacant land was once a former railroad line. According to the DTSC, “Most of the arsenic is in the shallow soil (less than five feet below ground surface) and is above DTSC’s protective standards.” In June, a public meeting was held by the DTSC to discuss various cleanup alternatives. They included no further actions, capping the land and excavating the contaminated soil.  

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that is widely distributed in the earth’s crust. It can combine with other elements such as oxygen, chlorine and sulfur to form inorganic arsenic compounds.  Inorganic arsenic compounds were added to California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment’s (OEHHA) list of chemicals known to the State of California to cause reproductive toxicity for purposes of Proposition 65 in 1987. Inorganic oxides from arsenic were later added to the list in 1997.  

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also classified inorganic arsenic as a human carcinogen,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Garden Grove facility. “To help identify contaminated environments and to protect the health of workers and the public, LA Testing offers comprehensive arsenic testing services and has multiple laboratories across the greater Los Angeles area to serve the region.”  

LA Testing has also sponsored a video about arsenic exposure risks in the home and work environment that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/QIjNcli0kvA.  

To learn more about testing for arsenic or other environmental, health, safety and occupational 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 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.

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LA Testing

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