LA Testing Provides California Residents with Air Testing Services for Diesel Exhaust

Diesel engines provide power for a wide variety of vehicles, heavy equipment and other machinery used in a number of industries and manufacturing operations. The exhaust from these diesel engines contains a mixture of gases and very small particles that can create a health hazard if not properly controlled.  In fact, diesel engine exhaust was added to California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment’s (OEHHA) list of chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity for purposes of Proposition 65 in 1990.

According to an OSHA & MSHA Hazard Alert, diesel particulate matter (DPM) is a component of diesel exhaust (DE) that includes soot particles made up primarily of carbon, ash, metallic abrasion particles, sulfates and silicates. Diesel soot particles have a solid core consisting of elemental carbon, with other substances attached to the surface, including organic carbon compounds known as aromatic hydrocarbons.

A partial list of occupations with potential exposure to diesel particulate matter and exhaust include miners, heavy equipment operators, truck drivers, material handling operators, bridge and tunnel workers, railroad workers, oil and gas workers, loading dock workers, construction workers, farm workers, long-shoring workers and vehicle maintenance garage workers.  In addition, any workers in the vicinity of diesel powered equipment may be exposed to these air pollutants.

“Short term exposure to high concentrations of diesel particulate matter and exhaust can cause headaches, dizziness and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat that may be severe enough to distract or even disable workers,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Garden Grove facility. “Prolonged exposure can increase the risk of cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary and respiratory diseases as well as lung cancer. Even those who have homes or go to work or school in areas with elevated levels of diesel particulate matter and exhaust could be at risk of developing complications.”

LA Testing recently sponsored an online video about diesel exhaust, particulate matter and air quality concerns that can be seen at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAjDvBwKFWE.

LA Testing and its network of laboratories provide the sampling tools and analytical services to identify diesel exhaust hazards from work environments as well as from people’s homes, businesses and schools.  To learn more about this or other environmental, health and safety 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 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.
 

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

LA Testing

(1) (856) 303-2503

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