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 will collect air samples inside and outside of homes and investigate whether porous materials exposed to wildfire smoke can absorb VOCs and subsequently release secondary air toxicants into the indoor environment over time. We seek data so that we can 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.
Stay tuned for more information about what we’re learning from Dr. Zhu’s study. In the meantime, 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?
We are asking owners of properties near the Palisades and Eaton Fires for permission to collect soil and water samples in their yards, gardens, and/or pools to test for possible wildfire pollutants. There is NO cost to the homeowner for the sampling or testing. To enroll, please fill out this form:
SOIL SAMPLE ENROLLMENT FORM
The results will be provided to the homeowner once testing is completed (~1-2 weeks after samples are collected). Additionally results, grouped and mapped by neighborhood, will be available and updated regularly, but no names or specific addresses will be listed with the results. Researchers will then use the deidentified data in publications and presentations.
Your participation is voluntary, and you are free to decline to answer any question, although not answering certain questions may result in us not being able to collect a sample. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Brianne Gilbert, Managing Director at the Center for the Study of Los Angeles, at studyLA@lmu.edu. Completion of this enrollment form does not ensure a sample will be taken. We will do our best to collect samples from every requested location, however, resources are limited. Homeowners will be emailed if their property is selected and will be informed which day a sample will be taken a few days in advance. Our team is actively working to secure additional funding for more samples.
CAP.LA & USC CLEAN: To date, more than two-thirds of our outside-the-burn-zone enrollees were able to provide samples at one of our five CAP.LA soil drop-offs that we held this spring and summer. Moving forward, we are winding down our activities outside the burn zones and focusing our efforts on team-based testing of properties within the burn zone. As we do that, we understand some of you are still interested in receiving testing. To that end, we are partnering with our colleagues at USC’s CLEAN soil testing program, who are providing testing for anyone in Los Angeles County.
The soil testing available from CLEAN is completely free. The CLEAN team uses the same testing equipment and similar methods to test soils for contaminants as we do. CLEAN participants collect samples themselves using easy-to-follow instructions and leave them at drop boxes located throughout Los Angeles County. Visit the USC CLEAN website to learn more about how you can collect and submit a sample for testing.
Water Sampling
How should I remediate my pool? When will my pool be safe to use again?
SWIMMING POOLS: 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?
Understanding Household Experiences to Enable a Faster and More Informed Recovery.
Three survey activities are underway so that household experiences and concerns can be better addressed by officials and decision makers.
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. As part of this study and at no cost to the property owner, the Purdue team has been meeting 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. Results are being compiled, anonymized, and analyzed. More formal results will be publicly shared in August.In-person Household Interviews of Experiences & Needs
This effort began shortly after the fire to inform the REBUILD Survey design. Households that were selected for participation were contacted by Professor Andrew Whelton at Purdue University. This effort focused on early household questions and challenges. Results are currently being compiled for reporting.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 and preliminary findings of the onsite household interviews and property inspections. Study results are being prepared for wide sharing in August.