Fire & Smoke Damage Testing Services

Huntington Beach, California, October 15, 2026

 

Researchers from the University of California, Davis and UCLA have identified airborne hexavalent chromium, commonly referred to as chromium-6, in cleanup zones associated with the 2025 Los Angeles County wildfires. The peer-reviewed study found that concentrations of the carcinogenic metal persisted in the air months after the fires and may have traveled several miles beyond the immediate burn areas. According to the researchers, chromium-6 nanoparticles were detected in and around the Palisades and Altadena cleanup zones, raising concerns about potential exposure risks for nearby communities.

 

Hexavalent chromium is a known human carcinogen that has been linked to lung cancer and other respiratory health effects. The study's authors noted that while measured concentrations were below certain occupational exposure limits, they exceeded some environmental screening levels and highlighted the need for continued monitoring as recovery efforts progress. Researchers also reported that concentrations declined over time and eventually returned to background levels, demonstrating the value of ongoing environmental surveillance.

 

Wildfires that impact urban and suburban environments can generate a complex mixture of airborne contaminants as homes, vehicles, electronics, building materials, and infrastructure burn. In addition to chromium-6, these events may release asbestos, lead, other heavy metals, combustion byproducts, and a variety of hazardous particles that can affect both cleanup workers and nearby residents.

 

“Understanding what contaminants may be present after a wildfire is an important step in protecting public health and supporting informed cleanup and recovery decisions,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility.

 

LA Testing provides laboratory services and sampling supplies to identify hexavalent chromium in environmental and industrial samples, helping property owners, environmental consultants, employers, and government agencies evaluate potential exposure risks. The company also offers testing services for a wide range of wildfire-related contaminants, including asbestos, heavy metals, particulate matter, and other pollutants associated with urban wildfire events.

 

For more information about LA Testing’s laboratory services and environmental monitoring resources, please visit www.LATesting.com, email [email protected],  or call (800) 755-1794.

 

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of mold, asbestos, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates, and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health, and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California, including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro, and San Diego.