Research
Air Sampling
Is the air safe? Do I need to throw away my mattress? Can I exercise safely outdoors?
The LA Fires released a complex mix of particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from burned structures, vehicles, and household products. These emissions can persist for weeks to months, as damaged materials gradually release pollutants back into the air.
Additionally, cleanup activities—such as debris removal and demolition—may further re-suspend contaminated dust and emit VOCs, prolonging exposure risks for returning residents. However, post-fire air quality remains an understudied yet critical area in wildfire research. The goal of this study is to assess indoor and outdoor exposure to both PM and VOCs following the LA Fires.
We are actively collecting air samples inside and outside of homes and investigating whether porous materials exposed to wildfire smoke can absorb VOCs and subsequently release secondary air toxicants into the indoor environment over time. Our goal is to help produce clear and practical guidelines about what can be safely cleaned, what needs to be thrown away, and what are the most effective cleaning.
Please note the following:
If your property has confirmed lead or asbestos contamination above action levels, self-cleaning is not advised as this requires specific abatement protocols, and if not done right may contaminate more of your property and expose you to further health risks. Further, it is typically illegal in California to hire anyone not certified in lead or asbestos abatement to perform such activities.
If you have reason to believe there is lead or asbestos on your garments, then you should treat this clothing as a total loss. We do not recommend attempting to clean these garments in your washing machine. Doing so may fail to remove some of metals and/or asbestos, while it may contaminate your washing machine.
A "smell test" is not necessarily effective for determining contamination on soft goods. Not all VOCs and semi-volatile organic compounds will have odors that you think of as negative, and some contaminants may have no discernible odor. You should assess your own situation, and if you have signs of significant smoke intrusion or the presence of ash, soot, or char, the best option would be to send away samples of your garments from each room/closet for testing.
Soil Sampling
Is the soil on my property contaminated? Is it safe to replant my garden?
The LA Fires released a complex mix of particulate matter (PM), heavy metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) from burned structures, vehicles, and household items. These pollutants can persist for months to years in the environment. Further, damaged materials can continue to release pollutants back into the environment via wind and water.
The goal of this study is to provide free soil testing for homeowners to help them understand the relative safety of their properties. Since last spring, our teams have been collecting soil samples from properties in and around the Palisades and Eaton fire zones. Here we asked owners of properties near the Palisades and Eaton Fires for permission to collect soil samples in their yards or gardens to test for possible wildfire pollutants. There is NO cost to the homeowner for the sampling or testing. The results are provided to the homeowner once testing is completed after samples are collected. Additionally, results (aggregated, de-identified, and mapped by neighborhood) will be available and updated regularly, but no names or specific addresses will be listed with the results. Researchers then use the deidentified data in publications and presentations. More than a dozen metals are tested such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium (often including hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI)), and lithium.
Water Sampling
How should I remediate my pool? When will my pool be safe to use again?
Hundreds of swimming pools are located within the burn perimeters of the recent Palisade and Eaton Fires. We have seen firsthand swimming pools are contaminated with fire debris, burned ash, dead animals, and potentially harmful pollutants.
Furthermore, far more swimming pools outside the burn perimeters may have been polluted with ash and other debris if they receive runoff containing wildfire residues during the rainfalls after the wildfire event. Yet, limited guidance exists on how to safely handle the polluted water, partly because the ranges and concentrations of pollutants in the swimming pool directly or indirectly affected by wildfire and runoff have not been measured. No prior pool water testing study has been conducted after a fire. The goal of this study is to help pool owners and health officials understand the safety of pool water after a fire by measuring the concentration of heavy metals and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) in pool water and the debris deposited on the pool floor.
Community
How do I know my children’s school is safe to return to? Where can I turn to get my questions answered? What contamination are my neighbors finding at their houses?
Environmental Test Result Review Study
As a direct response of households asking for assistance navigating the complexity of testing results and guidance provided by contractors and other parties, this study was initiated in February 2025 by Dr. Andrew Whelton (Purdue University). As part of this study and at no cost to the property owner, researchers met with property owners who submit their home environmental testing information and are assisted with the process. Further, the team has also been meeting with elected officials, government officials, engaging with property testing companies about issues that are surfacing. Issues include improper testing methods being applied by consultants, incorrect chemical safety standards used for comparison, contractors not testing for the contaminants widely known to be of great concern in the Eaton and Palisades Fire impact areas such as lead and asbestos. Findings are being compiled, anonymized, and analyzed.
Online REBUILD Survey of Experience & Needs
From April 2025-June 2025, an online community survey was conducted. The survey, called the Recovery Efforts By Uniting Individuals, Listening, and Discovery (REBUILD) study was initiated in direct response to the overwhelming number of questions received by the researchers.