USC researchers test neighborhoods areas for lead following Los Angeles wildfires

Original story by Jacob Margolis 

The aftermath of the widespread wildfires in Los Angeles has raised concerns over toxic heavy metals that may have spread in the region due to the destruction of  thousands of buildings.

Wrigley Institute faculty affiliates Seth John and Sam Silva, both professors in USC Dornsife Department of Earth Sciences, recently led efforts to gathering samples from streets and park sandboxes in neighborhoods impacted by the Eaton Fire to test for lead.

Here are some notable findings:

• Somewhat predictably, street dust from areas with the worst damage from the fires showed high levels of lead, but “it really was not nearly as concerning and not nearly as toxic as we had feared it might be,” John said.
• Lead levels were low to non-existent in the samples taken at playgrounds

Why it’s important:

• Test like these these help neighborhood residents understand potential risks, like bringing their young children to their local park to play in sandboxes
• Far more more testing needs to be done not just for lead, but for other heavy metals that are used to build homes.

Read the full story on LAist >> 

Watch the coverage on NBC Los Angeles below or click here >>