In January 2025, Los Angeles experienced catastrophic fires that destroyed over 16,000 structures. Professor John Volckens of Colorado State University initiated air quality research to assess toxic exposure from the blaze. He deployed 10 air pollution detectors to investigate the presence of heavy metals and benzene in the air. The findings highlighted the inadequacy of current monitoring systems, which fail to address hundreds of toxic chemicals released in urban fires. The fires underscored the need for comprehensive regulations amid increasing natural disasters exacerbated by climate change, especially as federal responses remain uncertain.
We have this kind of traumatic experience, and then we're left with: Well, what did we just breathe in?
The monitoring system misses hundreds of harmful chemicals released in urban fires.
These disaster events keep happening. They release pollution into the environment and to the surrounding community.
It's questionable whether the Trump administration will act, however.
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