Each year, October is recognized as National Indoor Air Quality Awareness Month. A comfortable temperature and relative humidity, good ventilation, and a lack of unpleasant odors comes to mind for many people when thinking about indoor air quality (IAQ), but it's also important to control exposure to airborne pollutants to help reduce the risk of health concerns.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that the health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure or, possibly, years later. According to the agency, these health effects could include:

• Irritation of the eyes, nose and throat
  
• Headaches, dizziness and fatigue
  
• Respiratory diseases, heart disease and even cancer
  

Some of the more common IAQ pollutants include mold, pollen, particulate matter, animal dander, Legionella and other bacteria, radon, formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, lead, asbestos, carbon monoxide and combustion gases, and tobacco and marijuana smoke to name just a few.

“Since most of us spend the majority of our time indoors, National Indoor Air Quality Awareness Month is a good reminder that the air we are exposed to and breathe can have an impact on our comfort, productivity and health,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing's Huntington Beach facility. “At LA Testing we support the efforts of National Indoor Air Quality Awareness Month. With multiple laboratories in California, LA Testing offers laboratory services to identify a wide range of microbial, chemical and radiological hazards, along with sampling supplies and easy-to-use test kits. We also carry building inspection tools and air monitoring instruments to help optimize indoor conditions.”

LA Testing recently sponsored an educational video about National Indoor Air Quality Awareness Month that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/RbLmbmixmOU

To learn more about IAQ testing services, sampling supplies, air monitoring instruments or building inspection tools, 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 environmental 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.

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