Preliminary soil sample testing in the Eton Fire Burn area has revealed a high lead rate, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
These results, released Thursday, come as residents of affected areas are trying to rebuild their homes.
According to the department, representative soil sampling involves collecting soil samples from various fire-affected areas to assess contamination levels such as ash and chemicals, and understanding the overall impact on the environment.
Preliminary findings and accompanying analysis are listed on the post-public health assessment page, based on the section entitled Outdoor Soil – Yard and Outdoor Soil – Ash/Soot.
Soil sampling was taken over four weeks, about a month after the wildfire broke out.
Samples were taken from several compartments around the Altadena, containing completely destroyed and partially damaged properties, and still completely intact within and around the burn area.
According to the department, these lead levels exceed the health-based screening threshold from compartments within the downwindless home of Etonfire.
Officials say soil samples were also collected about a mile outside the burn zone.
The area with the highest level of leads was around the Normandy Heights area, a nearby Pasadena area.
Roux Inc., the company that conducted the test, said they hadn’t sampled it in Pasadena all along.
Authorities believe that the source of lead is paint given that Altadena homes were built before 1975 and many of them used lead-based paint.
Levels above the screening threshold do not necessarily mean that cleanup is needed, but suggest the need for further evaluation, according to public health officials.
“We are coordinating with the county to explore options for more targeted lead soil testing in the most affected areas under the Eton Fire,” Nicole said with the Department of Public Health. “Lead is a dangerous neurotoxin and makes these requests because it can cause long-term harm to low levels in the body, especially in children.”
Preliminary findings in the Palisades fire area showed that the tests found “local chemical effects on soils above health-based screening thresholds,” but there was no evidence of widespread contamination from fire-related chemicals.
The county said they are trying to be as completely transparent as residents are about to return to these areas and re-farm.
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