Post-fire toxins: How to protect yourself, your ʻohana, and the ʻāina
by Ilima Edwards, Chapter Fall Extern | Reading time: 5 minutes
Post-Fire Chemical Toxins
Beyond the great visible damage that the Lāhainā fire on Maui left, there are likely chemical toxins that were left behind in Lāhainā’s environment. When a fire breaks out, many toxins from industrial and residential properties are released into the air with the dark smoke. These toxins, commonly found in ash and post-fire runoff, include benzene, asbestos, lead, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Elongated or high exposure to these chemicals can cause a variety of symptoms, such as nausea, dizziness, rashes, vomiting, headaches, confusion, rapid heart rate, respiratory issues, and cognitive defects known as "fire brain". On an even more serious note, asbestos and lead have been classified as either known or probable human carcinogens.
One class of chemicals that we’re expressing a growing concern for are Polychlorinated Biphenyls, or PCBs. PCBs are a class of man-made organic chemicals that have no known smell or taste, but can appear as either a light colored liquid or a black or yellow waxy consistency—and are known for being especially harmful to human, marine, and soil health. Although PCBs have not been legally manufactured since 1979, their presence in electrical equipment, as well as in various rubbers, plastics, and paint products has proven to still exist in today’s world. In Lāhainā, the primary carrier of PCBs is likely through old electric transformers and capacitors. We are currently requesting key data about potential PCBs and other toxins from entities like Hawaiian Electric to better understand the toxic threats and the necessary clean up and remediation measures.
How To Protect Yourself
With direction from the Sierra Club’s Toxics and Health Program the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Health, anyone entering the Lāhainā or Kula burn area should wear a N95 or NIOSH mask at a minimum, although a 3M half face 6200/6300 respirator with 3M 60921 cartridges of the P100/organic vapor cartridges is best, as well as long pants, long sleeves, close-toed shoes with socks, gloves, and goggles. After leaving the burn areas, folks should change clothing and shower off, especially before coming into contact with those who have respiratory issues, pregnant people, keiki, and kūpuna. Contaminated clothing should be washed separately from other laundry or disposed of.
Folks in surrounding areas, including nearby resource hubs should assess their own risk and consider wearing a N95/NIOSH mask or if accessible the respirators with cartridges listed above.
It is wise to take precaution in all areas in and around Lāhainā because of the possibility of contamination, even in buildings that did not burn at all. With the strong winds in Lāhainā at the time of the fire, it is highly possible that the toxins released into the air from the fire blew into other structures through cracks, windows, doors, and other openings. Once a wildfire is put out, toxins in the air can begin to settle in the ash, debris, and soil that sit in the fire’s ruins. Although the toxins may settle on various surfaces, they can get swept up into the air again with the wind or any movement of debris, and people can still inhale them. Home or room air filters are recommended for buildings and homes in the surrounding areas for the foreseeable future.
PCBs in the Environment
Photo: The New York Times
Since many common wildfire toxins, including PCBs, are not easily broken down once they enter the environment, these toxins pose environmental dangers both on and off Lāhainā’s shores. After any rain in Lāhainā and the surrounding areas, the once settled toxins can mix with rainwater as the runoff travels downhill toward the ocean. Once the runoff enters the ocean, toxins spread and contaminate the fish and coral reef ecosystems that act as an initial defense system against any future storm flooding. Chemicals like PCBs are particularly harmful for fish because they bioaccumulate, leading to fish having higher concentrations of PCBs than the water surrounding them. The testing of PCB concentration levels in fish will be an important indicator of the volume of PCBs that were released into the ocean.
Short Term Mitigation
For short term mitigation of these toxins on land, the EPA is planning on applying Soiltac, an adhesive soil tackifier, on top of the ash once all of the hazardous waste is removed from impacted sites. Contaminated rainwater and debris runoff prevention efforts are working to install physical barriers that catch the hazardous materials before they can pollute the waters surrounding Lāhainā.
Long Term Mitigation of Environmental Dangers
In regards to the long term mitigation of these harmful toxins in Lāhainā’s environment, the testing of soil and debris will need to take place before any rebuilding or replanting can occur. It is important that soil be tested before any replanting, especially of any edible gardens and trees, to ensure that the soil is safe for people to be exposed to through both direct contact with the soil and the ingestion of any food grown in it. Since many chemicals from wildfires do not easily biodegrade in the environment, any contaminated soil will need to be removed from Lāhainā and disposed of.
So far, the EPA has agreed to surveying, removing, and disposing of “household hazardous waste” from Lāhainā and applying Soiltac to ash as “Phase 1” of the federal cleanup response, with general debris removal taking place in “Phase 2” of the response. With the high likelihood of contamination in the debris, it is necessary that the EPA tests the debris before its removal so that an official confirmation of chemical contamination can be released to the public, and most importantly, the residents of Lāhainā.
Lāhainā & Kula Water
There is also a possibility of contamination in Lāhainā’s water and marine life due to the potential presence of toxins in water pipes and rain runoff into the ocean. Until Lāhainā’s drinking water is tested and confirmed to be free of toxins, it is unsafe to drink, brush teeth, and prepare food with tap water. It has been advised by Maui’s Department of Water Supply that Lāhainā and Kula residents should limit their use of tap water, especially hot water, when bathing and washing dishes or clothes. They have also released an interactive map of locations with the Unsafe Water Advisory, which is updated regularly here.
The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Water Resources Research Center in partnership with University of Hawaiʻi Maui College has also created this outstanding Maui Post-Fire Community Drinking-Water Information Hub with info on contaminants, water advisories, how to get your tap water tested and more. If you live in or near impacted areas and would like to have your water tested, fill out this form.
If you have questions or concerns regarding post-fire toxins, you can contact the Hawaiʻi Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 or the Hawaiʻi Department of Health at 808-586-4468.