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L.A. County offers lead testing and free soil sampling program after Eaton Fire; county reports few elevated blood lead cases so far
Summary
Los Angeles County Public Health reported results from representative soil sampling after the Eaton Fire, described a county program to offer free composite soil lead testing for affected properties and ongoing blood‑lead testing; staff urged residents to follow guidance and participate in testing if concerned.
Los Angeles County Public Health on May 27 summarized environmental and health work after the Eaton Fire and described a county program offering free composite soil lead testing and blood‑lead screening for residents in affected areas.
Why it matters: Wildfires that consume structures can distribute particulate matter, ash and chemical residues in soil and air. County testing found a higher percentage of soil samples with lead above California’s residential screening level in a downward (downwind) band from the Eaton Fire, prompting a targeted testing effort.
County findings and response: Public Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis briefed the council on county sampling and guidance. Using representative soil sampling in and near the fire area, county specialists found a higher prevalence of soil samples with lead concentrations above California’s residential screening level (80 parts per million). Dr. Davis noted California uses a conservative residential screening level (80 ppm) compared with the U.S. EPA screening level of 200 ppm and said the county’s Board of Supervisors designated $3 million from a lead‑prevention fund to allow targeted free composite soil lead testing for residents in the affected area.
Program details and follow-up: The county announced instructions and maps for which properties are eligible for free composite soil testing; residents collect four subsamples from play/ground areas or other likely exposure locations, drop them off per instructions and receive results typically in about 7–10 days. Dr. Davis said the county has also been offering free blood‑lead testing; of roughly 800 tests done to date, only three adults had elevated levels that warranted follow‑up; no children or pregnant women in the county‑run testing had elevated blood lead at the time of the presentation.
Other work and guidance: The county is coordinating with South Coast Air Quality Management District, state and federal agencies on air, water and soil monitoring and is posting consolidated results on the public Wildfire Recovery page. Dr. Davis advised residents on cleanup priorities (household hazardous materials, then debris) and on remediation steps for soil and indoor contamination. The county scheduled a virtual town hall and offers guidance online for residents who want blood testing, soil sampling and other assistance.
Council and resident questions: Council members and residents asked about which contaminants were detected, how wind and local sources (for example roadway emissions) can confound interpretation, and how to interpret composite results. Dr. Davis and public health staff said testing focused on known post‑fire contaminants (including lead, dioxins and PAHs), that patterns vary by fire and location, and that representative sampling cannot substitute for house‑by‑house detailed characterization if residents want that level of certainty.
