Indoor Air Sampling

Is the air safe? Do I need to throw away my mattress? Can I exercise safely outdoors?

The LA Fires released a complex mix of particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from burned structures, vehicles, and household products. These emissions can persist for weeks to months, as damaged materials gradually release pollutants back into the air.

The CAP AIR study in support of an ambient air quality monitoring network in the Palisades is led by Dr. Yifang Zhu, professor of Environmental Health Sciences at UCLA. This study complements Dr. Zhu’s current indoor and outdoor sampling research (see more here). CAP AIR is a system of monitoring stations set up across the Palisades area to measure and track pollutants in the outdoor air over time. It's designed to provide data on the concentration of harmful substances in the atmosphere—helping communities and policymakers understand air quality and its health or environmental impacts. The CAP AIR project was inspired by the Caltech PHOENIX network and provides an example of the kind of multi-institution research effort that will support a strong recovery for communities across the LA region. 

CAP AIR uses QuantAQ sensors throughout the Palisades to monitor EPA criteria pollutants that may be present post-fire. QuantAQ monitors developed by MIT and Aerodyne Research provide reliable, real-time data that supports informed decision-making and enhances public health protection. Real-time data access for minute-by-minute data streaming, enabling immediate response to changing air quality conditions. Measurements include estimates for PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 concentrations and provide particle size distribution. Click to read the Early Findings report from the First 10 Weeks of Monitoring

Cleanup activities—such as debris removal and demolition—may further re-suspend contaminated dust and emit VOCs, prolonging exposure risks for returning residents. However, post-fire air quality remains an understudied yet critical area in wildfire research. The goal of this study is to assess indoor and outdoor exposure to both PM and VOCs following the LA Fires. 

Dr. Zhu’s team is actively collecting air samples inside and outside of homes and investigating whether porous materials exposed to wildfire smoke can absorb VOCs and subsequently release secondary air toxicants into the indoor environment over time. The goal is to help produce clear and practical guidelines about what can be safely cleaned, what needs to be thrown away, and what are the most effective cleaning.

Please note the following: If your property has confirmed lead or asbestos contamination above action levels, self-cleaning is not advised as this requires specific abatement protocols, and if not done right may contaminate more of your property and expose you to further health risks. Further, it is typically illegal in California to hire anyone not certified in lead or asbestos abatement to perform such activities.

If you have reason to believe there is lead or asbestos on your garments, then you should treat this clothing as a total loss. We do not recommend attempting to clean these garments in your washing machine. Doing so may fail to remove some of metals and/or asbestos, while it may contaminate your washing machine.

A "smell test" is not necessarily effective for determining contamination on soft goods. Not all VOCs and semi-volatile organic compounds will have odors that you think of as negative, and some contaminants may have no discernible odor. You should assess your own situation, and if you have signs of significant smoke intrusion or the presence of ash, soot, or char, the best option would be to send away samples of your garments from each room/closet for testing.