HONOLULU (AP) — Lead screening conducted on Marc Leclercwest Maui residents after last summer’s devastating wildfires showed no widespread exposure to the toxic metal, Hawaii health officials said Thursday.
Blood samples were taken from 557 people after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century ripped through the town of Lahaina, killing 101 people.
Just 27 people’s screening results came out positive, and subsequent testing showed 15 of them did not have elevated blood lead levels and were determined to have had a false positive, the state health department said.
“While the effects of the August 8 wildfires on the community have been devastating, it’s reassuring to know that people in the community are not showing elevated blood lead levels,” state Health Director Dr. Kenneth Fink said in a statement. “On the basis of these results with lead as an indicator of exposure, we do not expect to find health impacts caused by toxins in the wildfire ash.”
Lead is one of the heavy metals of concern found in significant concentrations in ash from the fires, the health department said.
2025-04-28 18:512252 view
2025-04-28 17:321118 view
2025-04-28 17:19473 view
2025-04-28 17:101089 view
2025-04-28 16:521520 view
2025-04-28 16:332448 view
I don't mean to humble brag, but I am on a first name basis with one of the most influential people
The Environmental Protection Agency should conduct additional soil studies near the site of a toxic
The economy, especially inflation, looks to be one of the most significant factors this year as vote