Important Takeaways:
- With the burning of both the Pacific Palisades and most of Altadena (a town just north of Pasadena), over 15,000 structures went up in smoke, sending plumes of toxic ash into the air that included lead, asbestos, and many other chemicals. According to the New York Times, the neurotoxin lead reached 100 times “average levels even miles from the flames,” while levels of chlorine reached 40 times the average
- The fire’s aftermath could lead to greater damage to brains and nervous systems from the lead in the air, especially in children, with chemicals like chlorine potentially damaging the lungs. A previous study showed that the 2018 Camp fire may have killed as many as 12,000 Californians prematurely due to the effects of toxic smoke and ash in the air.
- According to Axios, standard air quality measurements do not take into account the particles in the air like lead, asbestos, and other chemicals.
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