Más de tres meses después de que el incendio de Eaton arrasara el condado de Los Ángeles, una amenaza oculta está emergiendo de las cenizas: la contaminación por plomo. Jonathan Vigliotti tiene más.

Los Angeles

Extreme weather events are occurring more frequently amid rising sea-levels and increasing temperatures.

Climate Crisis

More than three months since the Eaton Fire ravaged Los Angeles County, officials have identified a significant environmental concern: lead contamination in the soil. This finding comes in the wake of soil tests conducted by a third-party group on behalf of the county, revealing that toxic levels exceed California's safety limits. Notably, 80% of the 800 properties sampled downwind from the fire's path have shown elevated lead levels.

The situation has sparked criticism and frustration among residents about the pace and thoroughness of the initial cleanup efforts. In a departure from traditional procedure, FEMA did not conduct these studies, citing policy changes and budget constraints at the federal level, leaving the county to undertake and finance the investigation, costing an additional $3 million for further screening.

The prevailing theory attributes the source of lead contamination to lead paint, prevalent in homes built before the 1978 ban. With most residential properties in the Altadena area constructed prior to that ban, lead paint was likely released into the environment during the fire. In response, residents are advised to avoid soil exposure, cover soil with grass, and consider blood tests for lead exposure. Some may need to manage a more intensive soil remediation process independently.



El elevado nivel de plomo tras los incendios forestales suscita críticas por la rapidez de la limpieza

Más de tres meses después de que el incendio Eaton arrasara el condado de Los Ángeles, una amenaza oculta está emergiendo de las cenizas, la contaminación por plomo. Recientes análisis del suelo confirman niveles tóxicos que superan los límites de seguridad de California. Jonathan Vigliotti de CBS se une a mí para más información. Jonathan, ¿qué muestra exactamente este estudio? Sí, John, este fue un estudio llevado a cabo por el condado. Trajeron a un grupo de investigadores externos que fueron de puerta en puerta, se centraron principalmente en los edificios todavía en pie a sotavento de la destrucción que se vio detrás de de mí. Recogieron muestras de suelo de unas 800 propiedades. De ellos, encontraron que el 80 por ciento de ellos tenían niveles elevados de plomo. Y como se puede imaginar, una gran cantidad de críticas y renovado frustración de los residentes de aquí que han sido durante mucho tiempo críticos de la rapidez con la limpieza fue y preocupaciones acerca de las amenazas que se pasaron por alto. Es importante señalar aquí que la FEMA tradicionalmente responde y lleva a cabo esos estudios. Lo han hecho durante casi 20 años, pero esta vez han roto el protocolo debido a cambios políticos y recortes presupuestarios. Ahora el condado está pagando esta factura, poniendo un adicional de $ 3 millones para una segunda ronda de detección para entender realmente el alcance de este problema, John. Dos preguntas, Jonathan. ¿Fueron esos cambios políticos y recortes presupuestarios a nivel federal, ¿sólo para confirmarlo? Y en segundo lugar, ¿por qué todo este plomo, de dónde viene el plomo? Así es, con los recortes presupuestarios a nivel federal. Con respecto al plomo, la teoría de trabajo en este momento es la pintura con plomo. La pintura con plomo era muy popular antes de que fuera prohibida en 1978. Más del 90 por ciento de las casas en el área de Altadena fueron construidas antes de esa prohibición. entró en vigor. Puedes ver la destrucción detrás de mí. Ese fuego, cuando arrasa, que introduce que la pintura de plomo en el aire en forma de ceniza, que luego nieva hacia abajo en las propiedades y se filtra en el suelo, John. ¿Qué va a hacer la gente que vive allí? Es una gran pregunta. Y en el peor de los casos, algunos residentes pueden tener que ser responsables de limpiar y remover las seis pulgadas superiores de su suelo a su propio costo. Pero ese es el peor escenario posible. Y los funcionarios aquí están instando a la paciencia como la segunda ronda de se lleva a cabo. Mientras tanto, hay consejos de sentido común. Evite la exposición al suelo, pon hierba en el suelo para que el viento no la levante y la lleve a otros barrios. Si vas a salir al exterior en contacto con la tierra, lávate las manos. Si tienes mascotas que entran en la casa, lávales las patas, compra purificadores de aire. E incluso se están introduciendo análisis de sangre para los residentes que están preocupados, John.

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