Representative soil samples tests in a Los Angeles County Public Health Study found a higher percentage of samples with lead levels above the health thresholds based on healthy plots of the Eaton fire.
During a virtual town hall on Thursday, April 10, officials presented the preliminary results of a soil sampling study carried out by Roux Inc. in and around the fire zones of Eaton and Palisades.
According to public health, the ground results in the ground of the Eaton fire zone comply with high lead reports in air samples taken after the fire and it attributed the lead source to expect hot houses with lead paint, which is common in houses before 1979.
Adam Love, with Roux Inc., said that soil samples have been taken from about one mile outside the Eaton fire burns.
“The areas where we found the highest levels were really in the Normandy height district,” said Love. “We did not sample up to Pasadena.”
In the fire zone of the Palisades, the tests found chemical impacts located in soil samples which were superior to the health -based screening thresholds, but there was no proof of generalized contamination of fire -related chemicals. »»
Love highlighted a higher percentage of soil samples with a higher level of arsenic in the northeast area of the burn area of palisades fire, but Love said that it is not clear which caused this overcoming.
According to public health officials, levels that exceed screening thresholds do not automatically mean cleaning are necessary, but suggest the need for more tests.
“By abundance of prudence, we ask the partners of the States and Federals to carry out a more in -depth assessment of the hot spots of palisades,” said chief medical advisor, Dr. Nichole Quick. “We also coordinate with the Comté to explore options for more targeted lead floor tests in the most affected areas downwind of Eaton’s fire.”
The results presented Thursday and published online came from 90% from a three -step study. The samples included in the study were taken from various places which include destroyed plots, damaged or not damaged. Stade one samples were taken between February 18 and 28 in destroyed plots and packages surrounding each fire zone.
Stade two samples were taken from March 4 to 11 in intact plots that have undergone different levels of damage in the two fire areas.
The study sought the presence of heavy metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (HAP) and dioxins.
Residents and legislators criticized the decision for the US Army Corps of Engineers to delete only six inches of soil during its debris elimination process and called for additional soil tests.
In a letter sent to FEMA last month, several legislators expressed their concern that the soil tests would not be done as part of the elimination of debris.
“Residents of the Grand Los Angeles should be informed of any potential toxin in the ground when they sail in the complicated recovery process,” said the letter. “Forest fire survivors deserve to return to safe properties without toxin.”
Representations Laura Friedman, D-Burbank; Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks; Ted place, d-manhattan beach; Nanette Diaz Barragán, D-Long Beach; George Whitesides, D-Santa Clarita; Julia Brownley, D-Thousand Oaks; Robert Garcia, D-Long Beach and Luz Rivas, D-Arleta signed the letter.
Public Health said he would publish additional results in the future of stage three of the study, which would analyze the soil of the plots where the elimination of debris has been completed. These samples were taken between March 21 and March 25.
The town hall was broadcast on Youtube.
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