Introduction to the Issue
New soil testing by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has found high levels of lead and other toxic metals at homes destroyed by January’s catastrophic wildfires and cleared by federal cleanup crews.
The Soil Testing Process
The county health department hired Roux Associates Inc. to conduct soil sampling at 30 homesites that had been cleaned up by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — the federal agency leading debris-removal operations for the Eaton and Palisades wildfires. The Army Corps and Federal Emergency Management Agency have said crews would clear wildfire debris and up to 6 inches of topsoil in ash-covered portions of the property.
Findings of the Soil Testing
In the Eaton burn scar, in the areas scraped by federal cleanup crews, around 27% of the Roux soil samples still had lead levels above California’s state standards for residential properties (80 milligram per kilogram). In samples taken from parts of those properties where soil was not excavated, nearly 44% had lead levels above the state benchmark.
In the Palisades fire zone, the numbers were much more assuring: less than 3% of soil samples from scraped portions of properties and about 12% from unscraped areas had elevated lead levels.
Possible Causes for the Variation in Lead Contamination
Adam Love, the vice president and principal scientist for Roux, said the higher percentage of older homes with lead paint in Altadena, where the Eaton fire primarily hit, could be one of the reasons for the large disparity.
“The honest answer is we don’t know all the things that could be contributing to [the variation in lead contamination],” Love said. “It could be related to the difference in the housing stock, and the fact that the houses in the Eaton area are more likely to have lead-based paint.
“It could be from soils during the scrape that got dislodged,” he continued, “or ash that blew from adjacent parcels into the scraped area.”
Recommendations for Property Owners
Love and county public health officials are now recommending that property owners in affected areas consider potential soil contamination ahead of rebuilding efforts.
“Soil impact assessment and management really should be part of any rebuilding plan,” Love said. “You may want to consider getting an assessment by an environmental professional in order to ensure you’re taking the appropriate steps to be protected.”
Issue with Rebuilding Permits
This comes as county and city officials have issued rebuilding permits without soil testing requirements — and some developers have already broken ground.
Growing Body of Evidence
The county results add to a growing body of evidence that a significant number of properties could still harbor dangerous contaminants even after federal cleanup crews finish removing wreckage — contamination that is typically prevented by the state guidelines that call for comprehensive soil testing.
Previous Findings and Criticism
Previous wildfire testing has found roughly 20% of properties fail to meet California’s cleanup goals for potentially toxic materials after a first round of debris removal, which typically involves taking off about 6 inches of topsoil. However, soil sampling allowed state and federal contractors to identify which properties still had high levels of contamination, and then to redeploy cleanup crews to remove additional soil to ensure properties meet California’s cleanup standards.
The decision not to perform comprehensive soil testing has been criticized by many environmental and public health experts.
“By not conducting soil testing, the federal government and state government have made the decision that leaving contaminated properties — and not informing the homeowners about how much contamination remains — is OK,” said Andrew Whelton, a professor of civil, environmental and ecological engineering at Purdue University who has studied environmental disasters.
Health Risks
When the Eaton and Palisades fires consumed thousands of homes and cars, they released untold amounts of hazardous chemicals. One of the most worrisome is lead, a brain-damaging chemical that has historically been used in paint and is still a fixture in batteries.
“Given these findings, it’s critical to understand the specific health risks posed by the chemicals detected — particularly lead, which remains one of our top concerns, “ said Nichole Quick, chief medical advisor at the county health department. “Lead is a potent neurotoxin, and even at low level, exposure can affect learning, development and behavior in young children. Lead exposure isn’t always obvious. Symptoms don’t show up right away or at all until the damage is already done.”
County Health Department’s Efforts
The county health department previously shared preliminary results from soil testing of still-standing homes in and around the Eaton and Palisades burn scars. As many as 80% of soil samples collected downwind of the Eaton fire had lead levels above the state health standards for residential properties.
The Los Angeles County health department is the only government agency to perform post-cleanup soil sampling. Federal disaster agencies have repeatedly refused. The Newsom administration also has not undertaken any soil testing.
Assistance for Homeowners
In April, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved $3 million to help homeowners downwind of the fires to test their yards for lead. That program is expected to start on May 19, and public health officials said 26,000 eligible properties would receive a postcard invitation with more information.
In that case, homeowners would need to collect soil samples themselves and drop it off for analysis.
If results find contamination, homeowners will probably be left to pay for additional soil removal or other methods to seal off contaminated areas. As the meeting dragged on, many residents in the comment section expressed their concern on how they might pay for such removal.
“We have no money,” wrote one commenter.
Conclusion
The discovery of high lead levels in soil on properties already cleaned by the Army Corps is a concerning issue that requires immediate attention. The lack of comprehensive soil testing by federal disaster agencies has been criticized, and it is essential that property owners take proactive steps to assess and manage potential soil contamination. The health risks associated with lead exposure are significant, and it is crucial that homeowners are informed and supported in their efforts to ensure their properties are safe for rebuilding.
FAQs
Q: What are the health risks associated with lead exposure?
A: Lead is a potent neurotoxin that can affect learning, development, and behavior in young children, even at low levels of exposure.
Q: Why is it essential to perform comprehensive soil testing after a wildfire?
A: Soil testing allows state and federal contractors to identify properties with high levels of contamination and redeploy cleanup crews to remove additional soil, ensuring properties meet California’s cleanup standards.
Q: What assistance is available to homeowners who may have contaminated soil on their properties?
A: The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved $3 million to help homeowners downwind of the fires to test their yards for lead, and eligible properties will receive a postcard invitation with more information.
Q: What can property owners do to protect themselves and their families from potential soil contamination?
A: Property owners should consider getting an assessment by an environmental professional to ensure they are taking the appropriate steps to be protected, and soil impact assessment and management should be part of any rebuilding plan.
