Are California Preschoolers Being Exposed to Elevated Levels of VOCs in the Air they Breathe?

Teachers and parents of young children in California have taken notice of an article that was recently published by WPVI about a University of Missouri study that looked at indoor air quality (IAQ) issues in daycare centers and preschools. The article, “Study raising eyebrows about indoor air quality in child care centers,” creates concerns for parents who depend on these facilities to watch over their children for hours each day.

According to the report, an air monitoring instrument developed by university researchers identified 47 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in these facilities during the study. VOCs are a diverse group of organic chemical compounds, some with familiar names such as formaldehyde. Exposure to elevated levels of many of these chemicals could have short and long-term adverse health effects for anyone that breathes these chemicals. This is especially true for children as they breathe up to four times as much per pound of body weight as do adults.

The presence of VOCs is not just a concern at preschools, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports, “Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors. VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands.”

“Other potential IAQ issues found in some schools and daycare centers include exposure to particulate matter, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, lead, asbestos, pesticides, mold, bacteria, radon, and allergens and asthma triggers from plants, pets, insects and rodents,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “At LA Testing, we provide comprehensive laboratory services to identify materials, chemicals, and biological pollutants and pathogens to help ensure that children and building occupants are not being exposed to potentially harmful substances. We also offer a wide range of easy-to-use indoor environmental quality (IEQ) test kits that can be used to identify numerous potential exposure issues in daycare centers and schools.”  

LA Testing has even sponsored an educational video about IAQ issues in child care facilities that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/A5p1oBxX9sA.

To learn more about VOCs and other indoor environmental quality testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email  info@LATesting.com  or call (800) 755-1794.  For access to 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 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, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

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LA Testing

(1) 856-303-2503

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