Is the ash toxic (results from testing showed arsenic, lead and cobalt)?
The Hawai’i Department of Health (DOH), Hazardous Evaluation and Emergency Response (HEER) Office, collected samples for laboratory analysis of just the ash from parcels in Kula, Olinda and Lahaina. DOH’s ash characterization testing screened for heavy metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), residual range organics, dioxins and furans, per- and polyfluorinated substances, flame retardants such as polybrominated diphenyl esters and organophosphates esters, asbestos, and organochlorine pesticides.
These results found elevated levels of arsenic, lead, antimony, copper and cobalt at levels determined by health agencies to be potentially harmful to humans in direct contact with it. This is why it needs to be collected and removed from the ground as soon as possible to reduce the risk of rainwater run-off or wind erosion. The ash sampling results, along with safety recommendations can be found at: https://health.hawaii.gov/news/newsroom/lahaina-ash-characterization-testing-show-elevated-levels-of-toxic-substances/.
Considering recently released data showing elevated levels of heavy metals in the ash, are any heightened protective containment measures or methods being designed for transport as well as at the site of final disposition? Has the County engaged toxicity experts to help understand heightened risks of transport and disposal?
Yes. Maui County is working closely with experts from Hawai’i DOH, USACE and USEPA to manage hazards to the greatest extent possible. Maui County, USACE and FEMA are committed to ensure the minimum possible exposure to public and environment.
Although municipal landfill liner requirements were developed to safely contain a wide range of residential and commercial wastes, Maui County is planning to build the proposed final containment area to exceed these standards by constructing two liners on the bottom of the containment area with a leachate (liquid from the waste) collection system at the uppermost liner and leak detection in between the two liners. The liner system is like those used in construction of hazardous waste landfills and is considered to be more than adequate to contain the contaminants (primarily heavy metals) in the ash/debris and prevent contamination to groundwater and the ocean.
USEPA is conducting a review of the design plan(s) for the site with respect to the proposed liner system to ensure that it is sufficient to contain Lahaina wildfire debris, the adequacy of Seismic Stability Analysis, and the Groundwater Monitoring Plan/Groundwater Protection Plan.
Where did these contaminants come from?
Source: Hawai’i DOH:
Antimony is naturally present in soils. The general population is exposed to low levels of antimony from ingestion of food and drinking water and possibly by inhalation of particulate matter containing antimony in ambient air.
Arsenic is a heavy metal found in soils in Hawaii due to volcanic soils and its use as an herbicide in the early 1900s. It is also found in building materials made of sugar cane (Canec) and wood treated for termite control (CCA treated wood). Arsenic can also be found in food such as rice, meats, fish and seaweed and has also been found to be naturally occurring in well water around the world. Long-term, environmental exposure to arsenic can cause skin problems, heart problems and cancers of the skin, bladder and lungs.
Cobalt is a naturally occurring element that is essential for certain functions of the body including the generation of red blood cells. People are exposed to small amounts of cobalt in food, industrial air pollution, and many cosmetics. However, when people are exposed to excessive amounts of cobalt, it can cause problems with the blood, lungs and skin. Cobalt may also cause cancer with extreme exposures.
Copper is a chemical element and essential trace mineral that is a reddish metal which occurs naturally in rock, soil, sediment, water, and at low levels, air.
Lead is a heavy metal that is expected to be present in ash due its use in paint on houses built before 1978. Lead is particularly toxic for young children and babies in utero as it hinders the development of the brain. Babies and children exposed to lead have trouble with learning, school performance, attention, and other neurocognitive problems.