Cinnaminson, NJ, February 28th, 2018
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 12 children had asthma in 2015. The agency also reports that in 2013, 13.8 million school days were missed due to the disease making it a leading cause of school absence.
Asthma is a long-term, inflammatory disease that causes the airways of the lungs to tighten and constrict, leading to wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing. The inflammation also causes the airways of the lungs to become especially sensitive to a variety of asthma triggers. The particular trigger or triggers, and the severity of symptoms, can differ for each person with asthma.
This sometimes life-threatening respiratory disease can be controlled through proper medical treatment and by managing exposure to environmental triggers that can cause an asthma attack. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists the following asthma triggers commonly found in or around school buildings, they include:
- Cockroaches and other pests
- Mold resulting from excess moisture in the school
- Dander from animals in the classroom
- Dander brought in on clothing from animals at home
- Secondhand smoke
- Dust mites
- Cleaning agents, perfumes, pesticides and other sprays
- Ozone
- Particle pollution
- Bus exhaust
“Fortunately, there are affordable environmental tests and real-time air monitoring instruments that can be used for identifying many of these and other known asthma triggers, respiratory irritants and allergens,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “If these asthma triggers are detected at elevated levels, corrective actions can be taken to mitigate or eliminate exposure concerns. EMSL proudly offers comprehensive air and indoor environmental testing services, sampling supplies, easy-to-use test kits and real-time air monitoring instruments to help in these situations.”
EMSL also recently sponsored an educational video about managing asthma in school environments that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/22-yrLtKFH8.
To learn more about this or other indoor air quality (IAQ), industrial hygiene, environmental and occupational testing services, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com. To view the complete line of EMSL’s indoor environmental test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.
About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical, Inc. is one of the leading testing laboratories with 43 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria,
Legionella, USP <797>, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at
www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.