An effort by USC Earth scientists to address potential health risks following January’s devastating Los Angeles wildfires has grown into the largest program of its kind in the county.
Hoping to fill a critical public health gap in the aftermath of the fires, researchers at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences invited concerned homeowners to submit soil samples for lead analysis at no cost. This effort evolved into the CLEAN (Contaminant Level Evaluation and Analysis for Neighborhoods) project, led by USC Dornsife Public Exchange.
For some of the scientists, the effort is personal. “I have kids myself, and I’m worried about their health,” said Seth John, associate professor of Earth sciences. “I have colleagues in the department who have children and homes close by the burned areas. All of us were just personally concerned about lead contamination.”
Fueled by grants and widespread media coverage, the CLEAN program has dramatically increased its capacity. To date, the team has tested soil from more than 4,000 properties for lead. They’ve also expanded testing for other contaminants in a limited capacity.
To help make testing accessible, Public Exchange hosts community events where residents can speak to USC’s soil experts, drop off samples and volunteer to collect samples at the homes of neighbors unable to collect samples themselves.
The CLEAN program model has been so successful that it’s being replicated by Public Exchange at Washington University in St. Louis, which is testing soil and air for toxins resulting from damage caused by a devastating tornado in May.