Interesting Facts About the Air California Residents Breathe and Testing for Airborne Pollutants

California residents with a healthy respiratory system may forget how important clean air quality is but for the millions of people in the state who suffer from asthma, COPD, allergies and other respiratory conditions, the quality of the air they are exposed to every day can have a direct impact on their immediate health and well-being.

Air is made up of a mixture of gases and particles that can vary by season, location, altitude, and various weather and atmospheric conditions. The primary component of air is nitrogen at about 78%. Nitrogen is followed by oxygen at approximately 21% and argon at almost 1%. Carbon dioxide, which many people recognize as a greenhouse gas, makes up only about 0.04%. There are also a number of other trace gases present in very small amounts. These include neon, helium, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone and carbon monoxide to name a few. Water vapor is also a component that can vary significantly from less than 1% up to 4% depending on conditions.

Across the nation, the Clean Air Act requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six common air pollutants, also known as criteria air pollutants. These include carbon monoxide (CO), lead (Pb), ground-level ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and particulate matter (PM). Particulate matter is a mixture of microscopic solids and liquid droplets that may include everything from, but not limited to, smoke, ash and soot to dust particles, allergens, acids and organic chemicals.

“California residents living near industrial areas or in one of the state’s numerous congested cities are more likely to be subject to elevated pollution levels that will expose them to a number of airborne contaminants,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “LA Testing, with multiple laboratories across the state, offers comprehensive indoor and outdoor air testing services, sampling supplies, test kits and a wide range of air monitoring instruments. These tests and field instruments can be essential for identifying airborne pollutants to protect the health and safety of people at home, school and in the work environment.”

LA Testing has also sponsored an educational video that shares interesting facts on what can be found in the air you’re breathing, that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/NE9rX2AotHo.


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, San Diego and Ontario.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

LA Testing

(1) 856-303-2503

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