In the aftermath of the devastating wildfires that hit Lahaina, Hawaii health officials conducted extensive testing on residents in west Maui to determine if they had been exposed to lead. However, the results of the testing did not show any evidence of widespread exposure to the toxic metal among the community.
Blood samples were taken from 557 individuals following last summer’s wildfires, and only 27 tested positive for lead. Further testing revealed that 15 out of these 27 individuals did not have elevated blood lead levels, indicating false positives in their initial screenings.
Dr. Kenneth Fink, the state Health Director, stated that the results were reassuring and indicated that there were no expected health impacts due to toxins in the wildfire ash. Despite concerns about high concentrations of lead in the ashes, the testing did not suggest widespread exposure to the toxic metal among residents of west Maui. The state health department emphasized that while it is important for residents to take precautions when dealing with ash from wildfires, there is currently no reason for them to be concerned about their health.
