DOH urges precautions after high levels of arsenic, lead found in Kula ash samples

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The state Health Department is urging residents to take precautions after high levels of toxic substances — including arsenic, lead and cobalt — were found in ash samples collected from fire-ravaged areas in Upcountry Maui.

Health officials are warning residents to avoid any kind of direct exposure to fire debris.

“The presence of the substances is not surprising, but the concentrations are indeed high, which only reinforces the need to follow the precautionary measures that have been previously communicated,” said Dr. Kenneth Fink, state Health Department director.

The ash samples were collected from eight homes in Kula.

Officials said the presence of arsenic is of greatest concern, as it is 140 times above action levels.

Fink encourages anyone going in and out of fire-impacted areas of Kula to wear protective masks.

Officials are also urging people to avoid disrupting ash.

The findings raise new safety questions for Lahaina, where residents are being allowed to returned to some areas cleared of toxic materials.

“The results may be generalizable to the materials burned in Lahaina so we wanted to share this information as quickly as possible with the people of Maui,” Fink said.

Find out more information about the air monitors being used to monitor the air, by clicking here.

SPECIAL SECTION: Maui Wildfire Disaster

Meanwhile, schools Superintendent Keith Hayashi sought to reassure residents as students prepare to return to schools in Lahaina following the fall break.

The DOH says no visible ash was found at any of the schools but to be extra cautious, specialized interior and exterior cleaning have been done. Lahainaluna High students will return to class on Monday while Lahainaluna Intermediate students go back Tuesday.

“We’ve been reassured the likelihood of the conditions at schools will become harmful in the near future is very low. Still, we revised our safety guidelines to be extra cautious,” Hayashi said.

Hayashi says the DOE will continue to work with the DOH in conducting extensive environmental testing and air quality monitoring to ensure a safe environment for students.

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