Air Quality Awareness Week and Identifying Exposure Risks to Airborne Pollutants

Air Quality Awareness Week (AQAW) has been recognized in the United States since 2007. For 2022, AQAW activities take place from May 2^nd to the 6^th and the theme for this year is Be Air Aware & Prepared!

The week of recognition is supported by AirNow, the home of the U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI), and partners such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), NOAA National Weather Service, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Department of State. The week-long campaign promotes events that increase air quality awareness and encourages people to check the Air Quality Index daily.

“Two topics that have been covered during Air Quality Awareness Week multiple times over the years include wildfires and smoke, and asthma,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “As reported by AirNow, the health effects from exposure to particles in smoke can range from relatively minor (eye and respiratory tract irritation) to serious (exacerbation of asthma and heart failure, and premature death). Regarding asthma, air pollution, especially ozone and particle pollution, is known to be capable of triggering asthma and worsening attacks. Outdoor air pollution can also increase sensitivity to other indoor pollutants and asthma triggers, like pet dander, mold and dust mites.”

Since most people spend about 90% of their time indoors, the indoor air quality (IAQ) of homes, schools, and businesses needs to be free of elevated levels of particulate matter, chemicals, and biological pollutants that could act as an irritant or cause allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions and diseases. This is why the industrial hygiene and environmental laboratories of EMSL Analytical offer indoor and outdoor air quality testing services, sampling supplies, easy-to-use test kits, and monitoring instruments.

EMSL Analytical also recently sponsored an educational video about Air Quality Awareness Week that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/XRzwmVzZspE

To learn more about indoor or outdoor environmental and industrial hygiene testing services, supplies or products, please visit www.EMSL.com, email  info@EMSL.com  or call (800) 220-3675. To access indoor environmental quality test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com. 

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products, and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP, and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail