In an unprecedented collective scientific effort to understand the short- and long-term health impacts of wildfires, researchers from four universities have launched a year study of the Los Angeles fires. The wildfires that began in early January killed 29 people, destroyed more than 16, structures, and exposed millions to toxic smoke. The research aims to evaluate which pollutants are present, at what levels, and where, and to assess the respiratory, neurological, cardiovascular, reproductive, and immune system impacts of the wildfires.
The multi-institutional collaboration is a consortium led by researchers from Harvard T. Wildfires in Los Angeles and other urban areas present unique hazards as buildings, cars, and products are incinerated, exposing people to particulate matter, gases, chemicals, heavy metals, asbestos, PFAS, microplastics, and other toxic pollutants.
They settle out of the air into soil and dust and can become resuspended during recovery and rebuilding efforts. Water quality can also be affected. The potential health impacts on millions of Los Angeles residents from exposure are many and include:. The L. Fire HEALTH Study has two primary objectives: First to examine which pollutants are present, at what levels, where, and how they change over time; and second to determine if the fires and aftermath are associated with chronic health effects in the nearby population.
As part of the air sampling effort, a mobile van will be deployed, equipped with advanced measurement technologies that can measure the chemical composition of particulate matter and gases in real time. A study of homes in the area will include monitoring indoor and outdoor air, drinking water, house dust, and soil samples, and assessing the role that building design and filtration plays in limiting infiltration of wildfire pollutants.
A novel approach to estimate smoke infiltration into homes will also be used. A novel model of 14 million homes in California built with advanced machine learning will allow researchers to understand how much smoke entered homes and where.
