The roots of Delta Laboratories, Inc were planted in 1952 when founder Wayne M. Harris, a delegate to the Monroe County Conservation Council appealed to New York State to clean up the Genesee River. History had shown that many species of fish native to the Genesee River were no longer present. Pollution and industrial waste dumping were thought to be causing the problem. Proof was necessary. The Genesee River became one of the first areas to be tested so that a classification could be assigned to protect the people who used its waters.

Wayne M. Harris, attorney and visionary environmentalist drew together a group of like-minded individuals to change the New York State laws as they concerned public waterways. After successfully changing the State laws for public waterways Wayne M. Harris along with many volunteers focused on the air pollution standards. It was out of these efforts that Delta Laboratories, Inc. was born.

DELTA LABORATORIES, INC. was founded in 1971 as a not-for-profit environmental organization dedicated to providing independent, scientific information about environmental quality.