Reports of respiratory issues near Lahaina burn zone put new spotlight on air quality monitoring
“Results from all of the monitoring consistently show no significant impact to air quality. There is growing concern about air quality in West Maui following reports of respiratory issues near the Lahaina burn zone. The American Lung Association received four calls last week from people worried about the dust, three of whom were experiencing symptoms like chronic cough. The Department of Health responded to these concerns, stating that there are 55 real-time air quality monitors in Lahaina and Olowalu capable of detecting contaminants such as arsenic and lead. The state also confirmed that high levels of toxic substances were found in ash samples collected from 100 properties. Despite this, there have been no significant impacts on air quality or outdoor air quality.
Published : a month ago by Allyson Blair in Health Environment
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - There is growing concern about air quality in West Maui following reports of respiratory issues plaguing some people downwind of the Lahaina burn zone.
The American Lung Association says it received four calls last week alone from people worried about the dust, three of whom were experiencing symptoms like chronic cough.
Meanwhile, questions linger about whether the state’s air quality monitors are capable of detecting toxic substances found in the ash.
A video shot March 7 shows wind carrying a plume of dust kicked up by crews working within the Lahaina burn zone. The dust worries come three months after a warning from the state Health Department that urged residents to avoid any kind of direct exposure to fire debris.
The DOH says high levels of toxic substances were found in ash samples collected from 100 properties including arsenic, lead, antimony, cobalt and copper.
• None HNN Investigates: Maui releases trove of emails offering new insight into wildfire response
• None Log of personnel at Maui EOC on day Lahaina burned offers insight — and raises more questions
Pedro Haro, head of the American Lung Association of Hawaii, calls the situation troubling.
“We’ve definitely voiced concerns to the Department of Health for a while now,” said Haro. “For the most part, the Department of Health hasn’t reached out to us.”
Haro says one point in particular still isn’t clear:
“The monitors that are in place in Lahaina, are they designed to be able to monitor the types of heavy compounds, toxic chemicals that were found in the soil?”
HNN Investigates took Haro’s question to the state. The answer, in short, was yes.
According to the Department of Health, there are 55 real-time air quality monitors in Lahaina and Olowalu capable of detecting contaminants such as arsenic and lead. In addition to those monitors, air samples are collected via the use of samplers at multiple sites, including Lahaina Intermediate School, Leialii Hawaiian Homelands, Wastewater Pump Station #4, and the Lahaina Boys and Girls Club.
Officials say they’re analyzed for a wide variety of toxic substances such as anitmony, arsenic, lead, cobalt and copper — all of which were found in Lahaina ash samples late last year.
Department of Health officials said results from both the samplers and air monitors “consistently show that debris removal activities have not significantly impacted ambient air quality” — or the quality of outdoor air. The DOH continued, in a statement: “Results from all of the monitoring consistently show no significant impact to air quality. These monitoring programs include quality assurance programs to maintain quality both in the field and the laboratory.”
During the week of March 10, Haro says calls started coming into the American Lung Association after residents noticed a significant amount of dust drifting out of the burn zone. The inquires ranged from questions regarding air testing to people reporting lung issues and coughing.
One woman described her symptoms as worse than what she experienced during sugar cane burning. Haro said if you’re near the impacted area, “The best protection is for people to be masked up or to stay indoors with the windows closed. Turn on the AC if you have it during those times.”
Data from the real-time air monitors is available anytime at fire.airnow.gov.
Topics: ESG