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A recent study by UCLA reveals that homes in Los Angeles, which survived the Palisades and Altadena fires, still harbor dangerous levels of toxic compounds, a year after the fire.
The study, led by environmental health scientist Yifang Zhu, highlights that even intact homes can contain elevated levels of carcinogenic and neurotoxic substances long after the fires have been extinguished.
The research, part of the LA Fire Health Study, shows that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, a carcinogen, and metals like arsenic and lead, a neurotoxin, remain present indoors. According to The Conversation, these compounds, which were initially high outdoors during the fires, continued to persist indoors months later.
Zhu's team, in collaboration with other universities, collected samples from homes exposed to smoke but not burned. They found that indoor VOC levels were higher than outdoor levels, posing significant health risks. This finding underscores the need for homeowners to consider indoor air quality, especially after wildfires.
The study emphasizes the importance of addressing indoor air pollution, which can be exacerbated by everyday activities like cooking with gas stoves or using cleaning products. The research aims to develop guidelines for restoring homes after smoke damage, providing a framework for future fire recovery efforts.