Identifying Indoor Pollutants to Help the Over 1.3 Million California Residents Suffering From COPD

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) reports that approximately 1,348,000 people in California have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). According to these figures, no state in the nation has more people with the disease and this is why November’s designation as National COPD Awareness Month is so important.

COPD refers to a group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. It includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis and in some cases asthma. Common symptoms of the disease that people often mistake as normal signs of aging include wheezing, shortness of breath, ongoing cough, chest tightness or a combination of all.

Tobacco smoke is a major cause of COPD, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 1 in 4 people with COPD have never smoked. The agency goes on to share that exposure to air pollutants in the home, at work, genetic factors and respiratory infections also play an important role. The most important aspect of treatment for COPD is avoiding tobacco smoke and other air pollutants according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“Not only can COPD be debilitating, the NHLBI also reports it is a major cause of deaths in the United States,” said Joseph Frasca, LA Testing’s Senior Vice President of Marketing. “Consequently, it’s important that the home and work environment of someone with COPD does not have elevated levels of pollutants in the air they breathe to keep from aggravating the condition.”

Some of the indoor air quality pollutants, irritants and allergens that may exacerbate COPD conditions include dust mites; pet dander; mold and bacteria; pollen; scented soaps, shampoos and perfumes; fumes from cleaning chemicals; dry cleaning chemicals; smoke from fireplaces and wood stoves; dusty conditions; dirty HVAC ducts and carpeting; and outdoor pollution that infiltrates a home or business. LA Testing’s California laboratories offer air and dust sampling, sampling supplies, test kits and air monitoring instruments for these and many other inhalation concerns. Identifying indoor environmental quality (IEQ) exposure risks is a major step towards being able to mitigate or eliminate these respiratory concerns.

LA Testing also recently sponsored an educational video about National COPD Awareness Month that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/Sbl4FLOFBmc.

To learn more about indoor environmental quality testing or to request sampling supplies and air monitoring instruments, please visit www.LATesting.com, email  info@LATesting.com  or call (800) 755-1794. To access IEQ test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.


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 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-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), 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, Huntington Beach, San Leandro, San Diego and Ontario.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

LA Testing

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail