Lead Testing Services

Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 27, 2023

Last month, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced it was urging employees of an ammunition plant in Anoka to have their children tested for lead exposure after MDH, Anoka County and St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health identified four children with elevated blood lead levels. The agencies believe this occurred due to exposure to lead dust that was brought home accidentally on the clothing and personal items of family members who work at the plant.

According to MDH:

Health officials are concerned there may be other children of plant employees who were exposed to what is known as “take-home lead dust” and have not been tested. Additionally, the company has yet to demonstrate that it has made sufficient changes in the operations at the plant to sufficiently reduce the risk of take-home lead dust. 

Lead exposure can occur in many industries, including manufacturing, construction, wholesale trade, transportation, remediation and even recreation. To stop lead from getting into an employee’s home and vehicle and putting their family at risk, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends workers always wash, shower and change out of work clothes and shoes before leaving the jobsite.

“Occupational exposure to lead has been recognized as a health hazard for years,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “This is why there are a number of rules and regulations in place that are meant to protect workers from exposure hazards. However, if these regulations are not followed, or if workers have no idea they are being exposed to lead, they and even their families, could be at risk of lead poisoning.”

Helping to prevent these types of exposure risks for workers and their families are the lead testing experts at EMSL Analytical, Inc. Their scientists offer environmental and industrial hygiene testing services, sampling supplies and easy-to-use test kits to identify lead and other regulated materials. These services can be essential for preventing lead exposure as well as the noncompliance penalties and legal costs that frequently accompany these types of events.

Several years ago, EMSL sponsored an educational video about secondary lead exposure risks for workers’ families that can still be seen at: https://youtu.be/TSNaDLmdwXI 

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

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with 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, VOCs, 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.