The devastation of the tragic 2018 Camp Fire could have even worse long-term effects.
A new California Air Resources Board analysis of air quality data collected during the fire discovers what exactly was in the thick smoke that blanketed much of Northern California for two weeks in November 2018.
According to the results published Monday, the smoke produced from the Camp Fire exposed Californians to dangerous levels of particulate matter and concerning levels of toxic metal contaminants, including lead. The toxic levels were particularly high for a 24-hour period.
"This report makes it clear that wildfire smoke poses a real health threat not only to people living and working near these fires, but to anyone affected by the smoke as it travels across California and beyond," said CARB Executive Officer Richard Corey.
"After an extremely dry winter, California is facing the potential for another severe wildfire season in 2021. So it’s more important than ever that we all take action to protect ourselves – and our loved ones – from smoke."
At least 85 people died in 2018 as the deadliest wildfire in California history burned more than 150,000 acres in Butte County, destroying most of the town of Paradise and nearly 19,000 buildings.
The study compared air quality data from the Camp Fire with three other large wildfires in 2018 that burned mostly vegetation to better understand the air quality differences that might occur between vegetation-based wildfires and those that burn more structures.
Fires that involve structures can release a range of harmful and toxic substances. The Camp Fire produced levels of lead and zinc, as well as calcium, iron and manganese. Smoke containing these metals traveled more than 150 miles, and was detected in the air as far away as San Jose and Modesto.
The highest concentrations of lead were detected in Chico on Nov. 10, 2018. According to CARB’s analysis, lead concentrations in Chico reached levels 50 times above the average for that air monitoring site.
Lead exposure has been linked to a wide variety of health issues, including high blood pressure, reproductive effects and cancer in adults. Infants and young children are especially sensitive to even low levels of lead that are known to cause behavioral changes and learning deficits.
CARB is studying the effects of wildfire smoke on health even further, including one study currently analyzing associations of short-term exposure with loss of workdays and increases in asthma attacks.
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