Burned-home soils showed uneven lead, arsenic contamination after Los Angeles wildfires

A study published in Environmental Science and Technology Letters on May 12 reported a chemical analysis of residential soils and ash around California homes affected by the Eaton and Palisades wildfires in early 2025, which found wide variation in contamination by potentially harmful elements, including lead. The researchers shared their findings with the Los Angeles Public Health Department during the study.

A chemical analysis of residential soils and ash around California homes burned by the Eaton and Palisades wildfires in early 2025 revealed wide variation in contamination by potentially harmful elements, including lead, according to a study published in Environmental Science and Technology Letters on May 12. The researchers made their findings available to the Los Angeles Public Health Department over the course of the study.