What Dangerous Particles Did LA Residents Breathe During The Fires?

LA Times:

The Los Angeles times reports on some Californians' worst fears -- that the wildfires put something bad in the air:

It was full of tiny particles -- 100,000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair -- that can penetrate into the lower lung and migrate into the bloodstream. Their complex chemical composition makes them slightly more toxic than pollutants in a freeway corridor -- and they are spread over a much wider area.

The smoke particulates are adept at producing free radicals that can damage cells and lead to disease. Roughly half the matter sampled was organic carbon, which includes known carcinogens. Levels of metals such as copper emitted from burning buildings were also higher.

Read the full story here.

Related:
Are Southern California's Wildfires a Harbinger of Worst Things to Come Under Climate Change?
California Fires Show Devastating Risks Posed by Global Warming

Read the whole story: LA Times

Comments

[mamacat]

I noticed that a lot of people who I know got flu-like symptoms after the fires, and I have been wondering if the illnesses were in any way connected to the smoke. I am inclined to think so. I have never seen so many sick with the same symptoms before.

[FormerReaganite]

This site has comprehensive information of the dangers of smoke and air pollution.
Join the discussion too! http://burningissues.org/forum/phpBB2/index.php

[joebiz]

Smelling burnt house is national pastime in LA. The entire place has some of the worst smog in the world.

[JScott]

And don't forget the smell, only now nearly a week later after I evacuated, is it disappating, I hope the rain helps.

[TrooAmerican]

What Dangerous Particles Did LA Residents Breathe During The Fires?

Um..Smoke?
Since when has breathing smoke from burning anything been healthy or wasnt potentially cancer causing?
Its not like this has never happened before c'mon people.

[easarsfield]

did you actually READ the article?

When a home burns, all of the toxic material that it either contains or is comprised of is going to be released into the atmosphere. A lot of the older homes that burned probably released asbestos into the air.

A forest burning is not really good for air quality, but homes, etc. is definitely way worse.