Ash from Fires Contains Small Amounts of Cancer Causing Toxins

By Ed Joyce / Reporter, KPBS Public Broadcasting

Published October 26, 2007 at 11:58 AM PDT

This story was published more than 17 years ago.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health says ash deposited by forest fires is relatively nontoxic and similar to ash that might be found in your fireplace. But that ash will contain

The San Diego County wildfires have deposited large amounts of ash outside and inside areas near the fires. KPBS Environmental Reporter Ed Joyce has more.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health says ash deposited by forest fires is relatively nontoxic and similar to ash that might be found in your fireplace. But that ash will contain small amounts of cancer-causing chemicals.

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The San Diego County wildfires includes forest lands and homes. Ash and debris from burned structures many contain more toxic substances than forest ash. That's because of many synthetic and other materials. And, older buildings may contain asbestos and lead.

Health officials suggest using well-fitting dust masks for cleanup work. Masks rated N-95 or P-100 are most effective in blocking smaller particles and ash. They say using a high efficiency particulate air or HEPA-type vacuum is recommended for cleaning surfaces contaminated with dust. The typical household vacuum should not be used since it will re-suspend the collected dust into the air.

Ed Joyce, KPBS News.

Ed Joyce

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Ed Joyce was the environment reporter and afternoon news anchor for KPBS-FM. Before joining KPBS, he worked as an editor/columnist with Copley News Service in San Diego. Ed has an extensive background in newspaper, radio, web and TV journalism. After graduating with a B.A. in Communications from the University of Washington in Seattle, Ed began a career in broadcast journalism. His work has included stints in public broadcasting, commercial broadcasting and education -- working as an affiliate professor of communication and reporter at the University of Idaho and Washington State University in Pullman, Wash. During the past 20 years he has worked in radio, TV and print as a news reporter, anchor, writer, editor and producer. Along the way he has won numerous awards for general news reporting, newswriting, feature and issue reporting and breaking news reporting from The Associated Press, The Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego Press Club and other organizations. During the mid-1990s, while working for Oregon Public Broadcasting, he was a frequent contributor to National Public Radio, including a feature report on the memorial service for 14 U.S. Forest Service "hotshots" who died fighting a wildfire in Colorado (the crew was based in a central Oregon town). He’s also filed reports with Marketplace, KQED’s California Report and Climate Watch and with national and regional networks throughout the United States. At KPBS, Ed continues his contributions to National Public Radio and other national and regional news organizations. He has won awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and San Diego Press Club for his environmental reporting at KPBS-FM-TV and for producing and anchoring radio newscasts. In 2007 he was selected a National Press Foundation fellow for Understanding Violent Weather II program. The seminars were held at the National Weather Center in Norman, Okla. In 2008 he spoke at a UC San Diego conference on U.S. National Security as part of the school’s Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation. Ed led a discussion with the 18 foreign government officials and academics about the political debate over climate change. In 2010, Ed was elected to a three-year term on the board of the San Diego Press Club.

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