We recently analyzed air samples collected from a front porch in South Pasadena, just a few miles from the Eaton Fire. The results reveal some key insights:
🔥 NO₂ was slightly elevated at 31.9 ppb, likely from a mix of wildfire emissions and urban pollution.
🔥 No detectable acid gases (HCl, HBr, HF), suggesting minimal emissions from burning of plastics, fire retardants, or fluorinated materials.
🔥 VOCs included traces of benzene (5 ppb) and BTEX compounds, consistent with fuel additives rather than direct combustion.
🔥 The majority of VOCs were diesel-range hydrocarbons (C11-C16), present at 1–2 mg/m³, suggesting a strong contribution from vehicle emissions and combustion sources.
A major factor in this fire was the Santa Ana winds, which not only fueled the flames by supplying extra oxygen but also pushed the emissions out over the ocean, sparing cities like South Pasadena from heavier smoke exposure, and likely few health consequences.
Ongoing air monitoring is important to understanding the health consequences of exposure to these fires. Have you experienced air quality impacts from wildfires in your area? Love to hear your thoughts.
