Huntington Beach, CA, October 26th, 2020
October 25th through the 31st is recognized as National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW). The week of recognition is a joint initiative of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Lead is a highly toxic, heavy metal that can harm the brain and other vital organs if inhaled or consumed. While everyone is susceptible to lead poisoning, children are especially at risk. The primary exposure risk for most children comes from lead-based paints that were used in many homes and apartments throughout California up until 1978. Another exposure route emanates from elevated levels of lead in some drinking water. Just a few months ago, the EPA announced over $6,000,000 in grant funding to assist the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) with identifying sources of lead in drinking water from childcare centers.
“According to NLPPW sponsors, approximately 3.6 million American households have children under 6 years of age who live in homes with lead exposure hazards,” said Joseph Frasca, LA Testing’s Senior Vice President of Marketing. “The CDC also reports that about 500,000 American children between the ages of 1 and 5 years have blood lead levels greater than or equal to the blood lead reference value (BLRV), the 5 µg/dL level at which the agency recommends public health actions. This is why NLPPW is so important for spreading awareness and creating action to prevent new cases of lead poisoning.”
Fortunately, childhood lead poisoning is considered the most preventable environmental disease among young children. This is why LA Testing’s California laboratories are dedicated to identifying lead hazards. They offer lead and other hazardous material testing services for samples from air, water, paint, dust, soil and other matrices. They also provide all of the sampling supplies needed as well as easy-to-use indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and drinking water test kits. LA Testing has even sponsored an educational video about National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/YfaJoRrOpI4.
To learn more about lead or other environmental and industrial hygiene testing services, 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.