LA Fires: Toxic Hazards & Health Risks
- Following the devastating Los Angeles wildfires that killed 29 and destroyed over 16,000 structures, a multi-university consortium launched the LA Fire Health Study.
- Nicole Byrne, a Pasadena resident, is participating in the study. Her home, located downwind from the Altadena burn zone, is being tested for contaminants.
- Byrne, a therapist, and her husband, jonathan Hull, a chemist, were concerned about potential toxic environmental exposure after the fires.
The LA Fire Health Study is actively investigating the fallout from devastating Los Angeles wildfires, scrutinizing wildfire toxins adn their effects on residents’ health. Launched after fires claimed 29 lives and decimated over 16,000 structures,this critical study,spearheaded by a consortium of universities including harvard,UCLA,UC Davis,and UT Austin,is providing crucial data. The research assesses air quality and evaluates the long-term health risks posed by exposure to contaminants, offering much-needed insights where other agencies have declined. Pasadena resident Nicole Byrne, among others, is actively participating, having her home tested. Through this vital 10-year commitment, supported by the Spiegel Family Fund, News Directory 3 has been providing vital community updates. Discover what’s next for those affected by these fires.
LA Fire Health Study Examines Wildfire Toxins, Air Quality After Devastating Fires
Updated May 31, 2025
Following the devastating Los Angeles wildfires that killed 29 and destroyed over 16,000 structures, a multi-university consortium launched the LA Fire Health Study. The study aims to assess the impact of wildfire toxins and air quality on residents’ health.
Nicole Byrne, a Pasadena resident, is participating in the study. Her home, located downwind from the Altadena burn zone, is being tested for contaminants. Parham Azimi, a Harvard researcher, collected water samples from Byrne’s home for analysis.
Byrne, a therapist, and her husband, jonathan Hull, a chemist, were concerned about potential toxic environmental exposure after the fires. The LA Fire Health Study Consortium, comprised of researchers from Harvard, UCLA, UC davis, and UT Austin, is providing crucial data after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers declined to conduct soil sampling.
The consortium, supported by the Spiegel Family Fund, committed to a 10-year study. It also pledged to provide Los Angeles with real-time health data regarding air quality and wildfire toxins.
Byrne and her husband knew “too much for comfort” about toxic environmental exposure, “but without a good way to get answers,” she said.
What’s next
The LA Fire Health Study will continue to analyze samples and provide ongoing health information to the Los Angeles community, focusing on the long-term effects of wildfire toxins.