Asbestos Testing Services

The 18^th annual Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW) takes place the first week of April. The week-long campaign was started by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization and is meant to educate the public about asbestos hazards.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that “asbestos” is a commercial name, not a mineralogical definition, given to a variety of six naturally occurring fibrous minerals (chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, actinolite, and any of these materials that have been chemically treated or altered). These minerals possess high tensile strength, flexibility, resistance to chemical and thermal degradation, and electrical resistance. Due to these attributes, they have been used for decades in thousands of commercial products, such as insulation and fireproofing materials, automotive brakes and textile products, and cement and wallboard materials to name a few.

“Even though the use of asbestos has decreased dramatically over the last several decades, asbestos-containing materials are still found in many residential, commercial, and institutional settings,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “If friable or disturbed, these materials pose a health risk to workers and others. This is due to the fact that asbestos can separate into microscopic-size particles that remain in the air for an extended period and are easily inhaled. People exposed to asbestos have developed several types of life-threatening diseases, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.”

Helping to mitigate exposure risks for workers and the public, and to keep companies and institutions in regulatory compliance, EMSL Analytical provides quick and affordable material, industrial hygiene, and environmental testing for asbestos. With dozens of laboratories across the United States and Canada, EMSL also offers sampling supplies, easy-to-use test kits, and personal protective equipment (PPE). They have even sponsored an educational video about Global Asbestos Awareness Week that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/CBv3JSJXVdQ

To learn more about asbestos or other building science, occupational, environmental, air quality, health and safety testing services, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com. For access to asbestos or other indoor environmental quality (IEQ) test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com. 

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories 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-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC 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.