Researchers have documented dangerous levels of carcinogens in Californian wildfire ash.
Carcinogens, cancer-causing agents or substances, can be naturally occurring in the environment as well as man-made, according to the National Human Genome Research Institute.
Researchers detailed in a new study published in the journal Nature Communications on December 12 that they had found high levels of hexavalent chromium in the ash left in the wake of the Kincade fires (Sonoma County) in 2019 and in the Hennessey fires (Napa County) in 2020. These elevated levels remained in the soil for 10 months after these fires burned, partially due to “relatively dry post-fire weather,” according to the study.
The U.S. Department of Labor says hexavalent chromium is typically produced in industrial processes such as welding, chrome plating baths, and more. Exposure to this substance can produce several forms of respiratory cancer.
“The risk of developing lung, nasal, and sinus cancer increases with the amount of hexavalent chromium inhaled and the length of time the worker is exposed. Studies of workers in chromate production, chromate pigment, and chrome electroplating industries employed before the 1980s show increased rates of lung cancer mortality,” reads the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s website.
“The geographic distribution of metal-rich soils and fire incidents illustrate the broad global threat of wildfire smoke- and dust-born metals to populations,” reads the study. “Our findings provide new insights into why wildfire smoke exposure appears to be more hazardous to humans than pollution from other sources.”
Scott Fendorf, a professor from the Doerr School of Sustainability at Stanford University and contributor to the study, told NPR that the heat of the fire had likely transformed the natural elements in the surroundings from “benign” to “toxic.” Fendorf also said he will now be changing his response when he receives an alert of a wildfire.
“We get the alerts and I would still go outside and exercise, thinking exercise was the better factor for my health,” said Fendorf, per NPR. “Now it completely changes my calculation. When we start to get wildfire warnings or smoke warnings, I’m going to be wearing an N95 mask.”
Wildfires have presented a major hazard not just for the state of California, but also for Texas, particularly this summer due to high heat and ongoing drought conditions. Gov. Greg Abbott declared an emergency situation earlier this summer as several wildfires consumed acres of land, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.