The Hygienic Laboratory and the American Industrial Hygiene Association celebrated 40 continuous years of accreditation by AIHA at both its Coralville and Ankeny sites.

The Industrial Hygiene program performs occupational health testing for the Bureau of Labor to support the Iowa Department of Workforce Development and the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration programs (Iowa OSHA). Testing for these programs is performed in both the Ankeny and Coralville labs and consists of testing air filters for both inorganic and organic chemicals to assess occupational exposures to chemicals and fumes in the work place.

The Hygienic Laboratory also tests for asbestos, a group of similar minerals with separable, long, thin fibers. It is a natural mineral fiber that was used in products primarily because of its fire-retardant capability and strength. Asbestos has long been suspected as a health threat to humans, because the fibers can be inhaled and are difficult to remove from the lungs.

Asbestos testing is performed for businesses, state agencies and individuals. Materials that are frequently tested for asbestos include roofing, flooring and other items used in construction.