Understanding Wildfire Contaminants in Residential Soils: Key Takeaways
During the most-recent Los Angeles County town hall meeting held on February 18, 2025, local officials and environmental experts discussed the ongoing efforts to assess wildfire-related contamination in residential soils. Community concerns over toxic residues left behind in affected residential soils remain a top priority for both officials and residents.
Contaminants of Concern
To ensure the safety and health of impacted communities, several contaminants are being tested within residential soils. The primary contaminants discussed during the Los Angeles County town hall meeting included:
- Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) – Byproducts of burning organic materials, PAHs can pose significant health risks if they accumulate in the environment.
- Heavy Metals – These include lead, arsenic, and mercury, which can originate from burned structures and other wildfire-related sources.
- Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs) – These compounds, often linked to charred building materials, can persist in soils and pose long-term environmental hazards.
- Asbestos – Frequently found in older building materials, asbestos fibers can become airborne and settle in soil after wildfires, presenting a major inhalation risk.
While the above contaminants are being widely tested for, there are additional pollutants being sampled less frequently due to their complex nature and testing costs, which include:
- Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS/PFOA) – Common in firefighting foams and other industrial products, PFAS compounds can persist in the environment and contaminate water sources.
- Dioxins – Highly toxic chemical compounds produced by combustion, dioxins can pose serious health risks even at low exposure levels.
- Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) – Previously used in industrial applications, PCBs are known for their persistence in the environment and potential to cause adverse health effects.
How A-Tech Can Help
Understanding and addressing soil contamination is critical to restoring community safety and ensuring residents can return to their homes without concern. A-Tech Consulting specializes in environmental assessments and can provide expert sampling/analysis for these hazardous materials and facilitate remediation efforts (as required).
Our team of environmental professionals can assist in:
- Soil Sampling and Testing – We conduct thorough soil investigations to identify contaminants and determine their concentrations, in accordance with state and federal environmental standards/guidelines.
- Risk Assessment – Our experts analyze results to assess potential exposure risks and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies.
- Community Safety and Guidance – We work closely with homeowners, businesses, and local agencies to provide clear information on contamination levels and remediation steps.
- Soil Remediation – We can facilitate the remediation of contaminated soils, if any, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the community.
With our extensive experience in environmental consulting, A-Tech Consulting is committed to helping communities recover safely after wildfire events. If you are concerned about soil contamination in your area, contact us today to learn how we can support your needs.
