Lawmakers Call for Improved Air Quality Monitoring in LA Following Fires

A group of lawmakers are calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to monitor air quality in Los Angeles as the city recovers from recent wildfires.

According to an article by Ben Poston for the Los Angeles Times, “While the Eaton, Palisades and other fires spewed dangerous chemicals into the atmosphere, air quality readings in the region didn’t fully capture all the wildfire pollutants, air quality officials cautioned.”

Poston adds that some toxic substances, including asbestos, are not detectable under current air quality standards. “This lack of full information could increase the risk of long-term negative health effects, especially among vulnerable populations like children, pregnant women, and the elderly, regardless of whether or not people are in areas that have been directly impacted by wildfires,” wrote U.S. Reps. Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), and Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) in a letter to the EPA.

Now, those lawmakers are asking to convene a task force to improve air quality monitoring. “The lawmakers are also requesting that the EPA use ‘all tools at their disposal’ to regularly monitor air, water and soil hazards, including ash, lead, asbestos and chlorine.” 

The Los Angeles fires, which consumed hundreds of urban structures, created “highly elevated levels” of lead (“a heavy metal that has no safe level of exposure for anyone and can permanently stunt the development of children when inhaled or ingested”) in the air miles downwind from the fire areas.