This week’s storm in Southern California caused debris flows and landslides, especially in areas close to the fires last month, but could have also affected the expansion of the toxic elements released by the destruction.
Researchers at the University of Southern California may be investigating after they previously discovered increased lead levels in areas with severe fires.
Their initial findings pointed to high levels of heavy metals near burn sites, given the presence of lead by fires and the presence of lead in several types of batteries destroyed by fires.
However, strong winds and other factors have helped lead-containing ash spread widely. Lead exposure is dangerous, as explained by Mayo Clinic.
“Even small amounts of lead can cause serious health problems,” according to the clinic.
Leads detected after a wildfire, but the situation could get worse, USC professor discovered
Fortunately, many of the lead-containing ash likely have been washed away by recent rain, inhaling one of its major risks: toxic dust.
“[Airborne ash] It’s somewhat mitigated by recent rain, so it should at least help prevent ash from reposting into the air, and that’s what the cleanup crew must recognize when trying to clear everything that’s Altadena It burned material from it,” said Seth John, an associate professor of geoscience.
John pointed out that rainfall is a double-edged sword, reducing danger in the air, but that it picks up ash and its dangerous elements on the edge of the water, dispersing them broadly and unpredictably.
“Some of it gets washed away by a ditch, then enter the river and out into the sea,” John said. “Some of it will escape it and only get trapped in Altadena, and will probably end up being cleaned during the repair process.”
Josh West, a professor of geoscience and environmental studies whose home was partially destroyed by the Palisade fire, uses his property as an example of how difficult it can be to clean it, and a punching bag near his home and other protective items have locked in some of the ashes, other potentially dangerous fire wrecks have moved to other facilities or even swept all the way up to the Pacific Ocean.
This is where the long history of contaminated Los Angeles unfolds.
As West detailed, “There is a long history of lead accumulation, with all kinds of things, from lead gasoline to lead paints, many industrial applications over decades, and many of them. It’s imposing step by step, but it all relates to everything, the leads are accumulated in the environment.”
And it is likely that the number of lead-contaminated sites has increased significantly after federal action last year. Last year, the EPA decided to reduce soil lead screening levels from 400 parts to 200 ppm. This means that even if it was considered safe a few years ago, more places are considered contaminated.
Once lead-containing ashes settle in their locations, they are likely to further contaminate them, and serious action is required before these areas can be safely used.
“It’s not just going away,” West said. “So we’re going to say we’re always exposed to it. I think that it’s like a lot, a lot of stuff… The cumulative effect over time is something that can be said to be lead. It’s more likely to addiction: it’s not a lifelong risk factor, but how many people are exposed at one time.
Therefore, if someone’s lead contaminated backyard is not repaired, the home residents may still be building up toxic lead in their bodies years later, which could be involved in serious health issues. there is.
“The lead has been going on for a very long time,” agreed Sam Silva, assistant professor of geoscience, private and environmental engineering, population and public health sciences. “If you don’t do anything about it, Reed will stick for quite some time. It doesn’t just leave like other compounds. It’s not just being blown away by the wind.”
Scientists are also concerned about the possibility of pollution in the Pacific Ocean, and are concerned about what happens if lead reaches the Pacific Ocean, and how it will affect the ecosystem. Further testing of both the land and the ocean is key to determining the risks posed to the public.
In the meantime, scientists suggest that the public follow some tips for safety – they are listed below – and in the aftermath of such a fire, lead is multiple Remember that it is just one of the dangerous compounds.
Protecting yourself and your loved ones is paramount, as burnt plastics, arsenic, other heavy metals and a variety of other materials can also be dangerous.
“We tested the lead,” Silva explained. “There are a lot of other potential contaminants we haven’t tested yet… Lead is not a potential contaminant that can come from fire, so it’s worth paying attention to what we’ve heard from the state. There is a local government about what is not safe.
How to protect yourself and your family
Wear personal protective equipment when you are near burning areas or areas with potential aerial ash. LAIST suggests: Tight Fit N95 Mask or P100 Rispeter Rubber Gloves Long Sleeve Shirt and Pants Socks and Shoes Eye Protection is wet ashes before trying to clean it. If your own fruits, vegetables, or pets encounter ashes, rinse thoroughly before eating, clean your feet and bathe. If necessary, it can help you clean the interior of your home with an air purifier. I can’t escape
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