Research reveals toxic metal concentrations reached up to 80 times normal levels during the Eaton Fire.
Led by atmospheric chemists Haroula Baliaka and Nga Ng at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), the study found that atmospheric lead levels spiked to roughly 80 times normal baselines for a 24-hour period beginning January 9. Driven by Santa Ana winds, the flames from Eaton Canyon swept into Altadena to spark one of California's most devastating urban fires.
Beyond lead, the analysis showed the smoke contained elevated concentrations of chlorine, bromine, zinc, copper, and arsenic. The authors emphasize that as climate change and urban expansion push more fires directly into populated cities, monitoring and emergency response systems must adapt to better understand and manage toxic emission exposure risks.
