By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has released preliminary results from soil sample testing in and around the Palisades fire area, which revealed “localized chemical impacts” to soil above health-based screening thresholds are present in some areas of the Palisades, but widespread contamination from potentially fire-related chemicals is not evident.
LA County’s soil sampling and analysis—conducted by Roux Inc.—measured for levels of 14 substances that could be present after a wildfire on representative soil samples from different areas in the Palisades.
The provided data is based on the 90% of results available at the time of the report, which was distributed April 10. A final report and analysis is expected to become available in May.
So far the data is from parcels that were “minorly affected,” “not damaged” or “outside the fire boundary.” Data from destroyed properties is still pending.
“Over four weeks from mid-February to mid-March, soil samples were collected from destroyed, damaged and intact properties within the burn areas, as well as from properties just outside, and compared to current residential soil screening level thresholds,” according to Public Health.
Roux sampled soil from 780 parcels between the Palisades and Eaton fires, and reported differences between the two areas in the chemical types found in soil results, with low lead exceedances in the Palisades, but isolated areas of heavy metal and polyaromatic hydrocarbons soil sample exceedances above screening thresholds.
During a Public Health Town Hall on April 10, Dr. Adam Love explained on behalf of Roux that arsenic had the highest exceedance levels in the Palisades.
“A lot of the Palisades area didn’t have high arsenic exceedances at all, but … there was a high percentage of exceedances in a small area to the northeast,” Love said. “Those areas where we see higher arsenic levels don’t appear to be where we could expect to see impacts if it was related to a larger from wildfire smoke.”
Benzo(a)pyrene—a PAH that forms from burning organic matter—was identified in the same area.
“There is something locally in that area that is going on, that we don’t know the answer to yet,” Love said. “But it doesn’t look like something that is impacting the entire Palisades community.”
Love said cadmium was minorly detected throughout the Palisades—with “virtually no detections at all” of cadmium over the residential screening levels, but a hotspot “near the ocean” in the “southwest corner of the Palisades.”
“[Here] we see exceedances of cadmium above the residential screening levels in ways that we don’t see in any other part of the Palisades area,” Love explained. “But [it] doesn’t seem to be indicative of a larger wildfire impact.”
The overall exceedance for lead in the Palisades is approximately 5%, which Love said is “normal for an urban area.” There is no focus area where lead levels are higher than any place else in the Palisades.
“If levels exceed the screening thresholds, it does not automatically mean cleanup is required, but it suggests the need to consider additional evaluation,” according to Public Health. “This assessment provides a representative analysis of the soil in areas and under different conditions impacted by the fires. The reported results are not intended to imply cleanup or specific remediation is necessary; rather, the results identify areas potentially requiring additional evaluation.”
Individual parcels may have “unique factors” that would result in differences compared to the representative samples, according to Public Health. Residents with concerns about their specific property are encouraged to consult an environmental professional about evaluating their property.
“In all areas with on-going fire debris, residents are reminded to take precautions to not inhale, ingest or come into contact with ash, soot and/or fire debris by using appropriate personal protective equipment,” according to Public Health. “Additionally, community members are encouraged to review the soil sampling results and consider taking appropriate precautions if your home is in one of the areas where soil sample screening thresholds have been exceeded.”
Noting Public Health wanted to get the preliminary data out quickly, Love said a more detailed map of exceedances, potentially with street names, would be released in the future.
Public Health is offering free blood lead testing for individuals concerned about exposure to lead. Individuals can schedule a free appointment at a Quest Lab by calling 1-800-LA-4-LEAD.
“Testing is fast, free, confidential and does not require insurance,” according to Public Health.
For more information or to find testing locations, visit ph.lacounty.gov/wildfires.
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