The entrance to a classroom is seen at Palisades High School in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Jan. 14, 2025.
Credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
In the aftermath of L.A.’s most destructive wildfires, air quality experts warn that families should be prepared for the “disaster after the disaster” — toxic pollutants, smoke and ash that contaminate the air for months, or even years, to come.
“People at higher risk include children, older adults, pregnant individuals and those with heart or lung conditions or weakened immune systems,” said Muntu Davis, health officer for Los Angeles County, in a smoke advisory issued through last Sunday. “Predicting where ash or soot from a fire will travel, or how winds will impact air quality, is difficult.”
As local leaders focus on rehousing more than 100,000 people forced to evacuate, public health leaders emphasize that families, including educators and students, must also protect themselves from the long-term health effects of wildfires, especially those living or working near burned areas.
What pollutants are in the air?
The Palisades and Eaton fires — classified as urban wildfire interface fires, and now the largest urban fires in the country’s history — have spread a host of particulate matter, toxic pollutants and carcinogenic materials from fire and smoke-damaged urban structures, according to experts.
Short and long-term exposure to particulate matter, one of the main pollutants from wildfires, can cause respiratory problems such as coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, bronchitis and reduced lung function, as well as cardiovascular problems such as heart failure, heart attack and stroke, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Household items, electrical wires and building materials damaged by fire contain dangerous and toxic compounds such as benzene toluene, formaldehyde, and xylenes, along with heavy metals such as lead, chromium and arsenic, some of which can travel over 150 miles from the sites of the fires, according to data from previous wildfires. These toxic pollutants, which are commonly found in ash and debris from burned structures, can cause severe long-term illnesses such as cancer, liver problems, respiratory problems, heart disease and learning disabilities.
Even if you live or work near the fires, it is imperative to limit children’s exposure to areas still polluted with debris.
How can I know if the air quality is safe for my family?
The Air Quality Index uses air monitoring devices to measure the amount of particulate matter in various populated areas. Families can see the level of exposure for their particular locations on the map — from Good (green) air quality to Hazardous (maroon) air quality — and when to limit outdoor exposure and wear a protective mask accordingly.
- AirNow.gov measures real-time, reliable data for particulate matter present in smoke and dust.
- Fire.airnow.gov measures the main type of particulate matter present in smoke and depicts areas of major concern around the fires.
AQI does not measure everything
“The AQI does not measure the contaminants and pollutants we care deeply about,” said Jane Williams, executive director of California Communities Against Toxics.
In fact, pollutants such as dioxins — known to cause severe liver, endocrine, immune and developmental problems — can chemically bind to and travel in the air with smoke particles without being detected by monitoring devices.
“You can look at AQI and see that there’s only particulate matter in an area today,” Williams said. “Problem is, these toxic compounds have adsorbed onto the particulate matter there, which is how, for example, the health impacts from [9/11] spread so far.”
Experts caution that while AQI accurately measures particulate matter, it does not depict the presence of larger toxic chemicals from fires — such as asbestos from old homes, plastic, lead and copper — which increase the risk of acute and chronic health problems. Families should take extra precaution if they see or smell smoke, ash or live in and around neighborhoods with dangerous AQI levels.
How are children affected by these pollutants?
Children are at a higher risk of negative health outcomes such as acute respiratory infections, asthma and decreased lung function due to air pollution and smoke inhalation. One study found particulate matter from wildfires to be 10 times more harmful to children than particulate matter from non-wildfire sources. Inhaling toxic pollutants has also been linked to severe chronic respiratory, cardiovascular, immune and endocrine illnesses in children.
Acute symptoms of smoke inhalation include coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing and chest tightness, eye burning, chest pain, dizziness or lightheadedness and exacerbated symptoms for children with pre-existing conditions like asthma. Children from low-income neighborhoods are also at higher risk of experiencing these symptoms due to higher rates of air pollution near their homes.
How do I stay protected from wildfire smoke?
Children and adults should wear masks and limit outdoor activity near wildfires for at least two weeks after the fire is out, according to experts from the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
When outside, children and adolescents should wear a tight-fitting KN95 mask, N95 mask or P100 respirator. For young kids, only KN95 masks come in children’s sizes.
Make sure the mask is certified by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), has two straps and tightly fits over the nose and under the chin. Surgical masks, dust masks, bandanas and other makeshift masks do not protect from wildfire pollutants.
Free N95 masks are available for pick up at Los Angeles Public Libraries, Los Angeles Recreation Centers, Los Angeles Senior Centers and local nonprofits, and LAUSD students also have masks available at school, according to a district spokesperson.
Keep outdoor exposure to a minimum, and if possible, run an HVAC with a clean high-efficiency filter at home to prevent smoke and ash from entering indoors. If your child’s school has reopened, check that they have proper HVAC filtration systems installed. If they do not have proper HVAC, contact your school district or a local clean air advocacy group, such as Coalition for Clean Air, to advocate for system upgrades. In the meantime, schools can also pick up free air purifiers from donation sites across the county.
Schools in and around evacuation zones should also limit or cancel outdoor activities such as recess.
If your home has been affected by the fires, avoid bringing polluted ash and dust back to spaces shared with children. Remove shoes at the doorway, and wash and change out of clothing before you have contact with children.
If your child has problems breathing, refuses food and water or experiences other health problems related to smoke inhalation, remove them from a smoke-contaminated place and seek medical help immediately.
