Children’s Health Month in California and the Important Role of Indoor and Outdoor Environmental Quality

The month of October is recognized as Children’s Health Month. Key components of a healthy childhood include the environmental quality of the home, school and community the child is exposed to. This is why the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that protecting children’s health by minimizing environmental impacts on them is a high priority for the agency.

EPA goes on to share the fact that environmental contaminants can affect children differently than adults, both because children may be more exposed to contaminants and they are often more vulnerable to the effects of contaminants. For example, the agency reports that children may be more susceptible to chemicals and microorganisms they are exposed to in the environment because:

• Children’s nervous, immune response, digestive and other bodily systems are still developing and are more easily harmed
• Children eat more food, drink more fluids and breathe more air than adults in proportion to their body size – so it is important to take extra care to ensure the safety of their food, drink and air
• The way children behave – such as crawling and placing objects in their mouths can increase their risk of exposure to chemicals and organisms in the environment

“Unfortunately, too many children still encounter environmental contaminants in their home or even at their local daycare center, school or playground,” said Joseph Frasca, LA Testing’s Senior Vice President of Marketing. “For some, it could be exposure to lead in paint, dust, soil or water; damp and moldy indoor environments; bacteria; coronavirus; mercury; PCBs; pesticides; cleaning chemicals; wildfire smoke; tobacco smoke; e-cigarette vapors; radon; asbestos; particulate matter; asthma triggers such as dust mites, cockroaches, rodents and pet dander; carbon monoxide; contaminated water; ticks that spread Lyme disease; sewer gas; and formaldehyde or other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to name a few potential environmental hazards. This is why LA Testing’s California laboratories offer environmental testing services, sampling supplies, test kits and instruments to monitor air quality to identify these and other exposure risks. Once identified, the problem can then be eliminated or mitigated to protect our children.”

LA Testing has also sponsored an educational video about Children’s Health Month and potential environmental hazards that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/zK3mLG-JWaY.

To learn more about indoor or outdoor environmental testing services and monitoring instruments, please visit www.LATesting.com, email  info@LATesting.com  or call (800) 755-1794. For access to 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-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), 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

Contact via E-mail