Toxic Ash Threatens Health During Maui Lahaina Wildfire Cleanup

Health officials are warning Maui residents to exercise caution during cleanup following deadly wildfires as ash and debris may be filled with toxic substances, including asbestos, arsenic and lead. The aftermath of the Aug. 8 fire on the Hawaiian island has left a hazardous trail of pollutants and destruction after it decimated the historical coastal port city of Lahaina on Maui’s west coast.  “For generations, Lahaina’s beauty, culture and rich history drew artists, musicians and visitors from around the world,” said Jaime Kanani Green, wife of Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, during an emotional livestream statement. “Tragically, it took less than a single day for us to lose Lahaina in the deadliest fire our country has seen in more than a century.” At least 114 people are dead and more than a thousand others remain unaccounted for since the blaze, according to the Maui Fire Department. The inferno sent toxic fumes and materials into the air and out to sea as buildings burned to their foundations and the intense heat melted car tires into puddles. A toxic fallout from the ash and debris is creating a secondary disaster for the small island community. “We are going from one natural disaster to the next,” Newsha Ajami, a water expert at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, told The Washington Post of the post-fire contamination. Asbestos Risks During Natural Disasters Hawaii officials urge children and pregnant women to stay out of the ...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Asbestos Exposure Mesothelioma Source Type: news