"Chemical residues from burned houses, cars, consumer products and fire retardants create toxic hazards for fire survivors."
"As people in Los Angeles return to their devastated neighborhoods, now marked with burn scars and ruins, toxic hazards will persist long after the fires have been put out and the smoke has settled.
Since last Tuesday, more than 40,000 acres have burned in five different fires, killing at least 24. The blazes have reduced homes, cars and power lines to ash, releasing toxic chemicals into the air that will eventually settle onto the soil.
“There definitely is a large possibility that you will have lingering health effects from these wildfire smoke events,” said Jesse Berman, associate professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Minnesota’s school of public health."
Amudalat Ajasa and Ruby Mellen report for the Washington Post January 14, 2025.
Advertisement 
