Both Eaton and Palisades Fire’s utilities in burn scars reported that carcinogenic benzene was found in some of their water systems. National regulators recommend “don’t drink” and “don’t boil” notices of utility issues, which still allow residents to use water for showers, hands, laundry and other daily activities.
The state said the order tried to balance safety with the need for available water, and some scientists warned that using water could pose a risk even for purposes other than drinking or cooking.
Research Already linked Long-term exposure to benzene through the development of hematologic cancers such as inhalation or intake. Research I also found it Prolonged exposure can lead to anemia, which can make the patient feel weak and tired. Low white blood cell counts make the immune system weak; low platelet counts lead to excessive bleeding and bruising.
So far, two of the water utilities owned by Altadena’s three clients have detected carcinogens.
Lincoln Avenue Water Co. California Water Control Commission website – 30 pollution is above the state’s maximum allowable level, with concentrations up to 31 times the allowable level. Rubio Cañon Land & Water Assn. Say it has taken more than 150 samples. So far, out of the 100 released, six of the pollution is above the state limit, up to 190 times the allowable level.
Both Lincoln Avenue and Rubio Cañon List of affected streets has been released On their website.
Las Flores Water Co.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Electricity, which is responsible for most of the affected areas of Palisade, said it has Benzene detected. But unlike Rubio Cañon and Lincoln Avenue, it has not listed the affected streets in its “No Drink” notice, nor on the California Water Control Commission’s website Publish any test data.
LADWP said it is working on an online dashboard to help customers understand their test data. The utility tested water at 276 locations and initially found 14 benzene levels that exceeded the allowable limit. However, since then, LADWP was able to reduce the number of high benzene storage sites to eight by rinsing water through system.
The allowable limits for pollutants in drinking water are set based on the risks posed by daily exposures over decades. Scientists say little is known about the potential health effects of extreme, short-term exposure.
It is unclear whether the currently undamaged and living houses may be contaminated with benzene and at what level of contaminated water.
Benzene is a common chemical in many materials found inside and outside the house, including wood products, plastics, paint and gasoline. When these materials burn, benzene enters the smoke. And if the water system loses pressure and begins to drain completely, the fire hydrants and broken connections left on the destroyed house can be smoked into the pipes to fill the gaps in the system.
On January 8, three customers of Altadena (Lincoln Avenue, Rubio Cañon and Las Flores) issued a “no use” order, the most limited drinking – drinking water notice. Not knowing what pollutants may be in the water, they advise residents to avoid tap water altogether.
On the same day, LADWP issued a “boiled water” notice, and residents can still drink water even though the area is still under evacuation orders.
“Boiled Water” notification is the minimum limit for the four drinking notifications. It is designed to prevent pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria, from contaminating the water supply, but can be neutralized with high calories. The next level is the “don’t drink” notice, that even boiled pollutants are dangerous pollutants.
The combination of “Don’t Drink” and “Don’t Boil” is not only a dangerous contaminant, but also inhale the particles that can enter the air when boiling. Finally, use the “Not Use” notification when potential contaminants are unknown or pose a risk when contacting the skin.
The initial warning issued on January 8 was preventive measures. At that time, no benzene or other contaminants were found. But, given the wildfires in other cities, including the Tubbus Fire and Camp Fire in Northern California, as well as those in Colorado and Hawaii, public health officials and utilities are pursuing caution. .
On January 10, LADWP upgraded the “Don’t Drink” notice, and even if it is boiled, it is recommended not to drink water. By the end of the following week, Lincoln Avenue and Rubio Cañon were used for showers and other uses.
Eaton and Palisade open fire
The devastating fire killed at least 28 people, destroyed and destroyed more than 18,000 buildings, worth more than $275 billion, and made the burning area 2½ times the size of Manhattan.
While current orders allow residents to use water in some capacity, scientists say benzene can also be directly exposed to the body through direct contact with the skin (although it is usually much lower than inhalation and intake).
Experts say how residents use tap water will vary with their risk. For example: Washing hands with cold water does not pose a great risk to benzene exposure, said Gina Solomon, head of the Department of Career, Environment and Climate Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. On the other hand, having a prolonged hot water bath (especially a rash or a wound without breathing) means a greater risk of absorbing chemicals.
therefore, LADWP,,,,, Rubio Cañon and Lincoln Avenue All are advised to restrict hot water, limit shower and bath time, use an empty-to-dry setting on the dishwasher, avoid using a dryer, and then wash your clothes with cold water.
That is to say, science has not yet completely solved it. Researchers only really identified benzene as a pollutant of drinking water after wildfires after the 2017 fire, and some scientists say that not enough research was conducted confidently to determine which household water was at high risk, rather than.
“At present, no chemical modeling, mathematical modeling or any exposure evaluation is performed to determine the answer to the answer [these] question.
California policy uses benzene as a benchmark for overall pollution. The state requires utilities to test bacterial and benzene contamination, benzene can well point out whether other contaminants may be present.
But Wheaton and others stress that this assumption is not supported by evidence. In previous fires, they pointed out that other known carcinogens in the same family as benzene, called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Discovered in water systems Even if benzene is not present.
LADWP, RubioCañon and Lincoln Avenue all say they are not only testing for benzene, but also targeting complete EPA recommended VOC kitincluding hazardous chemicals found after bathtubs and bonfires.
Meanwhile, experts recommend that anyone in the burning scar should turn on all taps and water fixtures in their homes and let them run for at least 10 to 15 minutes to flush the system before using tap water.
Experts also warn that while residents may seek indoor water testing kits and filtration systems for additional peace of mind, most kits do not test all famous wildfire contaminants and filtration cannot guarantee safety if pollution levels are unknown water.
Both Pacific Palisades and Altadena utilities say they are working to restore drinking water as soon as possible without compromising safety. By detecting benzene, no one can predict when they can lift the “Don’t Drink” and “Don’t Boil” notifications.
