Los Angeles County finds itself plunged into an environmental and health crisis after two devastating fires, the Eaton Fire and the Palisades Fire. These wildfires have generated record levels of air pollution, triggering concerns about their long-term effects, particularly in disadvantaged communities, explains the Los Angeles Times.
As of January 8, alarming levels of fine particles have been recorded. In Chinatown, a sensor measured 483.7 micrograms per cubic meter, a record for the past four years. In Pacific Palisades, another monitor reached a peak of 1,100 micrograms, setting a sad new record since the sensors were installed in 2021. These levels far exceed the thresholds considered safe for human health.
An ongoing health crisis
At the height of the fires, hospitals saw admissions for injuries or smoke exposure increase 16-fold. Among the 81 hospitalizations recorded, experts fear that many other cases remain underreported. “We know that (smoke) has potentially fatal impacts, but it is not always shown on death certificates,” explains Alistair Hayden, professor at Cornell University, to the Angelin daily.
Children, in particular, are the most vulnerable to this pollution. A Stanford study conducted after the 2018 Camp Fire found that 76% of children with asthma experienced an attack or worsening of their condition. Latino, Asian and African American communities had been hardest hit, disparities that could be replicated in areas affected by the Eaton Fire.
Sustainable environmental threat
Although smoke from the fires has begun to dissipate thanks to recent winds, the ash and debris covering many neighborhoods pose a lingering threat. These residues contain toxic chemicals from the burning of homes, vehicles and vegetation, experts warn. “Fire sites can become a sort of toxic waste dump,” Chris Field, director at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, told Los Angeles Public Press.
“Even precious objects can become dangerous after hitting a fire,” he further emphasizes. For its part, the South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued several air quality warnings, recommending wearing N95 masks and keeping windows closed. However, certain particles, too large to be detected by the sensors, still escape official measurements.
Research and prevention
To learn more, NASA is currently using aircraft-mounted sensors to analyze burned areas and assess the toxicity of the ashes. These technologies, already used after disasters like the September 11 attacks, could provide valuable data to plan the cleanup phase and reduce risks for residents. “These environments remain toxic long after the fires,” emphasizes Michael Falkowski, terrestrial ecology scientist at NASA.
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Experts emphasize the urgency of adopting preventive strategies adapted to vulnerable populations. “Current air quality standards are not enough to protect people in these emergencies,” concludes Marc Carmichael, a medical student at Stanford.