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Crews clean up a property in Lahaina in September. The state Department of Health said Sunday that elevated levels of arsenic, lead, antimony, cobalt, and copper have been found in wildfire ash collected last month in Lahaina. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

Elevated levels of arsenic, lead, antimony, cobalt, and copper have been found in wildfire ash collected last month in Lahaina, the state Department of Health reported on Sunday.

The ash samples were collected on November 7 and 8 from 100 properties in Lahaina, which had been constructed from the 1900s to the 2000s.

The Health Department and its partners have consistently communicated that the wildfire ash and dust are toxic and should be avoided, a news release said.

The Lahaina data validates that the primary contaminant of concern is arsenic, a heavy metal that adheres to wildfire dust and ash. This finding reinforces the need to diligently follow recommendations to reduce potential exposure, the department said.

“These data validate that the Lahaina ash contains toxic substances,” said State Health Director Dr. Kenneth S. Fink. “While the concentrations of these substances are lower than the Kula ash results, they are still elevated and it continues to be extremely important to take precautions. The risk remains greatest from ash ingestion. Inhaling disturbed ash and dust is also a potential route of exposure. We’ve been closely monitoring air quality in Lahaina and air sampling in Kula during debris removal which have been reassuring.”

Until the ash and debris are removed, which is expected to occur in the coming year primarily by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, people can take action to minimize their exposure to these contaminants including avoiding disruption of ash and wearing proper PPE when in impacted areas, the DOH said. In addition, for people near the impacted areas, keeping surfaces clean of dust and ash and frequent handwashing will greatly reduce potential exposure.

In October, when DOH received similar data showing toxic substances in Kula ash, DOH worked with the county and federal partners to take action to protect Kula and Lahaina communities, which included the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency applying Soiltac, a dust control agent and soil stabilizer, to impacted areas.

As the detected substances are metals that adheres to ash, preventing ash and dust from becoming airborne will greatly decrease the risk of exposure to arsenic and other contaminants. Soiltac also prevents contaminant runoff, a news release said.

DOH and the EPA have also installed 53 real-time air monitors in Lahaina and Upcountry with data from these monitors is available at https://fire.airnow.gov/. The real-time monitors measure for PM 2.5, particulate matter that is 0.0025 millimeters and smaller in size (about 30 times smaller than a human hair) that can be a component of ash, dust, smoke, and air pollution.

The DOH is also conducting air monitoring and air sampling in Kula as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) conducts Phase II debris removal to ensure that the USACE debris removal activities do not significantly impact air quality in the area of Kula and will continue throughout the debris removal work.

Similar air sampling will occur in Lahaina once Phase II debris removal begins.

DOH continues to urge Lahaina and Kula residents to take precautionary measures when in the impacted areas and avoid exposure to wildfire ash or dust.

All Lahaina and Kula residents can monitor real-time air quality at fire.airnow.gov or by downloading the AirNow or IQAir Visual mobile apps.

If real-time air monitors in Lahaina or Kula are elevated, officials recommend to avoid outdoor activities to reduce exposure and minimize health risks; stay indoors and close all windows and doors and if an air conditioner is used, set it to the recirculate option.

Also, if you need to leave the affected area, turn on your vehicle’s air conditioner and set it to the recirculate option.

Residents in areas near the impacted areas should take precautions such as daily mopping and wet wiping to keep household surfaces free of dust or ash. Children, who are most susceptible to the toxic effects of these chemicals, should not play outside in areas that contain ash. Children and pregnant women with potential exposure to ash and dust should be considered at increased risk for lead exposure for lead screening purposes, a news release said.

People can consider staying indoors and closing windows when air quality indicators change to any color other than green. Using one of the air quality mobile apps with alerts can be very helpful. If unable to access a mobile app, it is recommended to stay indoors and close windows if downwind of the impact area during a time of increased risk of disruption of the ash such as in high winds or zone re-opening.

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