A University of Hawaiʻi study tracking 1,400 Maui adults found significantly elevated concentrations of toxic metals in residents 6–18 months after the August 2023 wildfire. Researchers say exposure extended well beyond Lahaina and continued long after smoke cleared, with links to abnormal lung function.
- Maui residents showed metal concentrations — including antimony at nearly 40x the continental U.S. average — months after the 2023 wildfire.
- Elevated metal levels were detected across multiple communities including Wailuku, Kahului, Kīhei, and Kula, not just Lahaina.
- Higher metal exposure was consistently associated with abnormal lung function test results among study participants.
- Researchers caution that contaminants can persist in ash, dust, soil, and debris and continue spreading during cleanup and recovery activities.
- Scientists recommend long-term environmental monitoring, respiratory screening, and ongoing cleanup efforts beyond the immediate post-fire period.
Source: Hawaii Public Radio
Share this article
