Asbestos Testing Laboratory

Denver, CO,  June 26^th , 2019

In April, a School District in Colorado announced it had begun a project to improve its high school campus that would involve abatement and construction over the following eighteen months. The district informed students’ parents in a letter that some parts of the school may no longer be accessed by students, staff or community members.

One reason some areas of the school will be closed is due to the presence of mercury and asbestos. These hazardous materials will be monitored by an environmental consulting firm that will be conducting air monitoring during the project. According to the school district’s notice, both asbestos and mercury have been found in some of the school’s flooring.

“Many people are unaware of the fact that mercury-containing polymer floors, which can be found in some gymnasiums, were used up until the 1990s in some schools and other athletic facilities,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President, Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Over the last several years, a number of school districts have discovered they have this type of flooring and have taken steps to have them removed. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommends that a sample of a floor suspected to contain mercury be analyzed by a laboratory to determine the mercury content. They state that if the floor contains less than 20 ppm mercury, it is unlikely that exposures to mercury vapor in the gym could reach levels of concern. However, care should be taken to limit possible exposures when these floors are removed or modified in the future. If the floor contains 20 ppm mercury or more, the mercury vapor concentration in the gym may approach or exceed levels of health concern under some conditions. MDH recommends testing the mercury vapor concentration in these gyms under a variety of conditions.”

Potential exposure to mercury or asbestos can be a serious health concern. Even low level mercury exposure can be an issue over time. Mercury exposure at high levels can harm the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs and immune system. Inhalation exposure to asbestos can result in lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. The experts at EMSL Analytical, Inc. can provide laboratory testing services and sampling supplies for these types of tests. They offer comprehensive testing from both material and environmental samples.

To learn more about mercury, asbestos or other environmental, material, occupational, health and safety testing services, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com.


About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with over 45 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.