A University of Hawaii study of 1,400 adults found significantly higher concentrations of harmful metals like arsenic, antimony, and cadmium in residents near the 2023 Lahaina wildfire zone up to a year and a half after the fires. Researchers linked these elevated metal levels to measurable lung function impairment and are calling for longer-term air quality monitoring and recovery planning.
- Urine samples from Maui residents showed antimony levels nearly 40 times higher than U.S. national averages, with other metals like manganese, barium, and arsenic also significantly elevated.
- Burned buildings, vehicles, and electronics — not just vegetation — are identified as likely sources of the toxic metal mixture released during and after the fires.
- Residents closest to Lahaina, Wailuku, and Kahului showed different and more severe health impacts than those near Kula, tracking with smoke and ash distribution patterns.
- The study found abnormal lung function, including reduced breathing capacity, was more common in participants with higher metal concentrations in their bodies.
- Researchers are urging long-term monitoring of post-fire contamination in soil, soot, and debris as part of ongoing recovery efforts.
Source: Whec
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