Los Angeles Fire Response
Since the Eaton and Palisades fires in early 2025, the John Lab has been deeply involved in the study of heavy-metals contamination resulting from the fires. Utilizing the same trace-metals analysis toolkit which we typically apply to oceanographic research, we are studying the release of metals from wildfire and urban structure burns. In particular, we are focusing on the release of Pb (lead) from the burning of structures. Public outreach and media are linked below.
The USC Public Exchange website contains links to all of our most recent work and data.
An article in LAist on Pb contamination in the direct aftermath of the Altadena fires.
A news segment from NBC on our response work.
Report from KTLA.
A webinar discussing soil safety with PostFire LA.
An article on the FEMA decision not to test soils with a brief quote.
Great investigative piece on lead levels in soils from Atladena (higher) and Palisades (very low), likely reflecting the lack of Pb in recently-built housing stock.
Interesting to just be clicking around on the web, and see that stock footage from our lab is being used in stories which don't relate to our work.
A nice article from EOS about Earth Scientists from local universities responding to the fires.
Since the Eaton and Palisades fires in early 2025, the John Lab has been deeply involved in the study of heavy-metals contamination resulting from the fires. Utilizing the same trace-metals analysis toolkit which we typically apply to oceanographic research, we are studying the release of metals from wildfire and urban structure burns. In particular, we are focusing on the release of Pb (lead) from the burning of structures. Public outreach and media are linked below.
The USC Public Exchange website contains links to all of our most recent work and data.
An article in LAist on Pb contamination in the direct aftermath of the Altadena fires.
A news segment from NBC on our response work.
Report from KTLA.
A webinar discussing soil safety with PostFire LA.
An article on the FEMA decision not to test soils with a brief quote.
Great investigative piece on lead levels in soils from Atladena (higher) and Palisades (very low), likely reflecting the lack of Pb in recently-built housing stock.
Interesting to just be clicking around on the web, and see that stock footage from our lab is being used in stories which don't relate to our work.
A nice article from EOS about Earth Scientists from local universities responding to the fires.