Many of Altadena’s standing homes still contaminated after cleanup

More than half of the surviving homes in the area affected by ash from the Eaton Fire had significant lead contamination, even after extensive interior restoration efforts. according to new data The public advocacy group Eaton Fire Residents United reported this on Thursday. In addition, a third of renovated homes tested positive for asbestos.

The results of an inspection of 50 homes in and downwind of the Eaton Fire provide the first widespread evidence that restoration methods proposed by insurance companies and public health officials did not sufficiently remove contaminants generated by the fire.

Long-term exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing mesothelioma and other types of cancer, as well as long-term exposure to lead may cause irreversible brain damage, especially in children, it leads to developmental delays and behavioral problems. No level of exposure to lead and asbestos is without the risk of adverse health effects.

“This is a community-wide issue,” said Nicole McCalla, EFRU data manager. “No matter what fix you use, one pass does not establish tolerance based on the data we have, meaning it is not yet safe to return to your home.”

That's a problem given that many residents who have been staying elsewhere are returning home, especially those whose insurance money for temporary housing is drying up. EFRU leaders urge residents to test their homes after remediation work and, if results show contamination, to continue repairs and testing until laboratory results come back clear.

EFRU, formed in January out of frustration that no level of government was adequately addressing the health concerns of Altadena residents, began by asking owners of standing homes to share the results of tests they ordered from professional laboratories, both before and after remediation.

In March EFRU was was the first to publish comprehensive results from inside homes that have not yet been renovated: Of the 53 professional testing reports that homeowners shared with the organization, every home tested for lead was found to have lead.

A similar process was used for this latest post-recovery report. Homeowners hired testing specialists to collect samples and carry out tests in certified laboratories, then share those results with EFRU. The organization then collated them in a database to give a broader picture of pollution in standing homes than any single test could show.

Of the 50 homes included in the EFRU report, 45 were tested for lead, and 43 of them had at least some level of lead contamination.

Of the 18 homes where experts tested lead levels in window sills, nine had levels above the level at which the Environmental Protection Agency typically requires further remediation. And of the 24 homes tested for lead in floors, 15 exceeded the EPA's remediation level.

There are no official EPA removal levels for asbestos dust on surfaces. However, asbestos dust was found in nine of the 25 homes tested for it in the EFRU report. The average concentration in these houses significantly exceeded the level of special remediation. The Environmental Protection Agency used in New York after 9/11.

“The number of homes tested is still very small, but given that most of the homes were rebuilt by professional companies, we expect all homes to be below EPA levels,” said Francois Tissot, a Caltech geochemistry professor who began testing stand-up homes after the Eton fire damaged his own. “It’s the promise of professional correction.”

EFRU is now calling on the California Department of Insurance to ask insurers to pay for testing and, if necessary, multiple rounds of remediation. The group is also asking Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare an “ash zone,” which would formally recognize the impact of smoke and ash from the fire beyond the immediate burn zone.

The ash zone will raise public awareness of health problems and remove some of the burden on individual residents of having to prove to insurance companies that their home has been damaged, EFRU said.

The Insurance Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tissot, who is not affiliated with EFRU but has been in touch with the group, previously found that wiped surfaces contained about 90% less lead than those left untouched after a fire. This made the EFRU's findings particularly surprising.

“To see that we are not even getting past 50% with professional restoration work is quite alarming,” he said.

While state and federal officials have partnered with researchers to develop guidelines for combating contamination of drinking water and soil systems after wildfires, restoring standing homes is something of a Wild West.

Instead of a central government agency working to ensure that premises are restored according to a science-based approach to restoration, a revolving door of insurance agencies and a hodgepodge of restoration specialists with vastly different levels of skill and experience have set different policies and standards for each home.

EFRU considers test results primarily from industrial hygienists, who specialize in identifying and assessing environmental health hazards, most commonly in workplaces such as manufacturing plants and hospitals.

In its review, EFRU found that many tests did not even detect lead or asbestos, despite the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health clearly warning that these two pollutants are known problems in the post-fire area. Those who tested for asbestos often used less sensitive methods that could underestimate levels.

EFRU hopes to work with researchers and officials to develop guidance on indoor contaminants, similar to those that exist for drinking water and soil, to help residents recover safely and quickly.

“We need a coordinated effort from all the different agencies and elected officials – either through legislation or pressure,” said Dawn Fanning, who leads EFRU's advocacy efforts. “We can find answers for these residents and for future wildfires.”