Soil Removed from California Neighborhood Due to Lead Contamination

Last month, NBC’s Channel 4 in Los Angeles broadcasted a report about residents in Vernon having topsoil removed from their yards.  The topsoil is being excavated down to a depth of 18 inches due to the presence of lead contamination.

The lead is believed to have come from a nearby battery recycling plant that suspended operations back in March after the plant was unable to satisfy the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s antipollution measures that had previously been imposed. The facility was one of the largest of its kind on the West Coast and had been in operation for decades in an area that is heavily populated.

Last year, the Los Angeles County Department of Health announced it was offering free blood testing to address lead poisoning concerns for people in the surrounding communities. State regulators also then ordered environmental testing for lead and arsenic that resulted in the soil removal activities that are now taking place.

One local company that provides environmental testing for both lead and arsenic is LA Testing.  LA Testing has a network of laboratories in California that provide testing services to the public, environmental consultants, industry and government regulators.  “Exposure to hazardous materials such as lead or arsenic can have a devastating impact on a person’s health, especially children who may play in contaminated dirt and are more likely to ingest these materials through hand to mouth actions,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Garden Grove facility.   “LA Testing offers quick and affordable tests to identify these toxic materials to help prevent needless exposure to these and other dangerous substances.”

LA Testing has sponsored an educational video about protecting children from lead poisoning that can be seen at: http://youtu.be/LkEqFhNDS-U.

To learn more about environmental testing or other indoor air quality (IAQ) and 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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