Representative soil sample testing done in a Los Angeles County Public Health study found a higher percentage of samples with lead levels above health-based screening thresholds taken from parcels downwind of the Eaton fire.
During a virtual town hall Thursday, April 10, officials presented the preliminary findings from a soil sampling study done by Roux Inc. in and around the Eaton and Palisades fire areas.
The lead findings in soil downwind from the Eaton fire area, according to Public Health, is consistent with reports of elevated lead in air samples collected following the fire and it attributed the source of lead to reasonably be expected to be from burning homes with lead-based paint, which is common in homes prior to 1979.
Adam Love, with Roux Inc., said soil samples were collected about one mile outside of the Eaton fire burn area.
“The areas where we found the highest levels were really around the Normandy Heights neighborhood,” Love said. “We did not sample all the way down into Pasadena.”
In the Palisades fire area, testing found localized chemical impacts in soil samples that were above health-based screening thresholds but there was no evidence of widespread contamination from fire-related chemicals.”
Love pointed out a higher percentage of soil samples having a higher level of arsenic in the northeast area of the Palisades fire burn zone, but Love said it is unclear what caused that exceedance.
According to public health officials, levels that exceed screening thresholds do not automatically mean cleanup is required, but suggest the need for more testing.
“Out of abundance of caution, we’re requesting state and federal partners to conduct further assessment of the Palisades hotspots,” Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Nichole Quick said. “We’re also coordinating with the county to explore options for more targeted lead soil testing in the most affected areas downwind of the Eaton fire.”
The results presented Thursday and posted online were from 90% of a three-stage study. Samples included in the study were taken from various locations that include parcels that were destroyed, damaged or undamaged. Stage one samples were collected between Feb. 18 and 28 at destroyed parcels and parcels surrounding each fire area.
Stage two samples were collected from March 4 to March 11 at intact parcels that suffered different levels of damage in both fire areas.
The study looked for the presence of heavy metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dioxins.
Residents and lawmakers have criticized the decision for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to only remove six inches of soil during its debris removal process and called for additional testing of soil.
In a letter sent to FEMA last month, several lawmakers voiced concern that that soil testing would not be done as part of the debris removal.
“The residents of greater Los Angeles should be informed of any potential toxins in the soil as they navigate the complicated recovery process,” the letter read. “Wildfire survivors deserve to return to safe, toxin-free properties.”
Reps. Laura Friedman, D-Burbank; Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks; Ted Lieu, 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 it would be releasing additional results in the future from stage three of the study, which will analyze soil from parcels where debris removal has been completed. Theses samples were collected between March 21 and March 25.
The town hall was streamed on YouTube.