Even after the disastrous L.A. wildfires abated last year, the danger from smoke persisted for many people living nearby.
Even after the disastrous L.A. wildfires abated last year, the danger from smoke persisted for many people living nearby. A new study finds that, by some measures, indoor air pollution actually worsened after the fires.
Erupting in January 2025, the Palisades and Eaton fires burned through large areas of Los Angeles, damaged or destroyed more than 18,000 buildings and, by one estimate, killed 440 people. To track pollution from the fires, researchers at UCLA collected air samples across the city, both indoors and out, throughout January as the fires burned and in the weeks that followed.
The researchers tracked levels of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, unleashed by the burning of paint, carpets, upholstery, and other materials commonly found in homes. “Some of these are carcinogenic and definitely harmful to human health,” said coauthor Yifang Zhu, of UCLA.
Read More: Yale Environment 360
Photo Credit: fish96 via Pixabay
