The Crisis Hidden Beneath the Surface

While debris removal crews clear the visible devastation from the January 2025 Los Angeles Wildfires, a hidden environmental crisis lurks beneath the surface. Toxic soil contamination from the largest urban wildfire in United States history poses ongoing threats to public health that current federal cleanup protocols fail to address.

The stark reality: Up to 80% of soil samples in fire-affected areas exceed state and federal safety levels for lead contamination. Even after official cleanup, 27% of "cleared" properties still contain dangerous levels of toxic materials.

What's Really in the Soil

• Lead Contamination: Pre-1978 paint and building materials create permanent neurological damage, especially in children. 70-80% of soil samples exceed screening levels in areas downwind of the Eaton Fire.

• Heavy Metals: Arsenic from treated lumber (known carcinogen), mercury from electronics (nervous system damage), and cadmium from batteries (kidney and bone disease).

• Chemical Compounds: Volatile Organic Compounds like benzene create immediate health risks. Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons are cancer-causing compounds from combustion.

  
  

The Federal Cleanup Gap

FEMA removes visible hazardous waste, structural debris, and 6 inches of surface soil but provides no mandatory post-cleanup soil testing. Since 2020, FEMA stopped funding comprehensive soil testing after wildfire cleanup, breaking with protocols used for previous major California disasters.

The consequence: LA County results show 27% of cleaned areas and 44% of uncleaned areas still have dangerous contamination levels even after Army Corps cleanup.

Who's Most at Risk

• Children Under 6: Most vulnerable to lead exposure causing permanent brain development damage

• Pregnant Women: Lead crosses placental barrier and can cause developmental delays

• Workers and Residents: Construction crews, landscapers, and families returning without adequate testing

  
  

Current Testing Resources

• USC CLEAN Project: publicexchange.usc.edu/la-wildfire-soil-testing

• LA County Program: For properties downwind of Eaton Fire

• Quest Labs: Call 1-800-LA-4-LEAD for blood lead testing

  
  

What CWRO Advocates For

• Mandatory post-cleanup soil testing for all cleared properties

• Comprehensive contamination analysis beyond surface debris removal

• Public health-protective standards that prioritize children's safety

• Federal funding for complete remediation, not just debris removal