With recent tests showing “unexpectedly” elevated levels of lead in soil near the Eaton fire burn area, the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, April 15, will consider directing $3 million to help residents with the cost of further testing.
If approved, the motion would reallocate $3 million from a county Lead Paint Hazard Mitigation Program, to bolster property owners’ ability to test for lead contamination, potentially from the fire.
The motion, by Supervisor Kathryn Barger, comes on the heels of the release of preliminary results last week that showed lead levels in soil samples taken from sites downwind from the Eaton fire area that are a notch above public health thresholds.
RELATED: Q&A — Health experts urge caution, more testing after elevated lead levels found in Eaton fire soil
The levels were found in areas with intact housing stock, which officials said was likely linked to older homes and the fire’s airborne dispersal of contaminants.
L.A. County Public Health officials say that while levels exceed public health screening thresholds, it does not automatically mean cleanup is required, but it suggests the need to consider additional evaluation.
Public Health contracted with Roux Inc., which is measuring levels of harmful substances that may be present after the wildfires. Such substances include heavy metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and dioxins.
Officials note that individual parcels may have “unique factors” that result in differences compared to the representative samples that were taken.
“The findings shared by the Department of Public Health are concerning for our residents who live near the Eaton Fire burn area and are now facing the possibility of soil contamination,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger. “I’m aware some of my constituents want to test their soil but are worried about the cost. This motion is about making sure they have access to resources and support to protect their health and their homes.”
The motion directs the Department of Public Health, in coordination with the Los Angeles County Development Authority, to use a portion of the county’s 2018 lead paint settlement funds to support soil testing efforts for residential property owners in areas downwind and within a one-mile radius of the burn zone.
If passed, Supervisor Barger’s motion will enable the Department of Public Health to contract with certified laboratories and provide soil testing assistance quickly and efficiently.
Barger noted that finds were unexpected.
But residents and lawmakers have criticized the decision for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to only remove six inches of soil during its debris removal process and called for additional testing of soil.
In a letter sent to FEMA last month, several lawmakers voiced concern that that soil testing would not be done as part of the debris removal.
But FEMA officials have stood firm on their policy of not removing soil deeper than six inches, arguing that it would be, in effect, removing ground that would not necessarily have be tainted with contaminants from this fire, but rather could contain elements dating back generations.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nichole Quick said that in young children, lead exposure can result in developmental delays, learning difficulties, behavior problems and lower IQ. She said the affects can be permanent and without obvious symptoms until damage has occurred. For pregnant women lead can impact the mother and developing baby increasing the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight and developmental issues.
For adults lead exposure can lead to high blood pressure, kidney damage, mood disorders and problems with memory and concentration.
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