This episode welcomes Dr. Erika Garcia and her work with the LA Countywide testing of lead related to the 2025 fires through the USC CLEAN Project. As of the time of this posting, they are still accepting submissions (at no cost) for your property to be added to the study. For interpretation of your results and more broadly how to manage lead contamination, they produced this guide.

In this episode, Dr. Jones is joined by Dr. Josh West, Professor of Earth Science and Environmental Studies at USC and one of the lead scientists for the CLEAN Project. They discuss heavy metals in soil after the January 2025 fires, with a focus on lead, how testing standards are used, and why understanding exposure is more complicated than a simple yes-or-no answer. Dr. West also explains how some contaminants come from fire impacts while others may already exist in the soil from past pollution or natural geology.

In this episode, Dr. Jones is joined by Dr. Michael Kleeman, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Davis, to discuss new research on metallic nanoparticles found after the January 2025 fires. They explore why particle size matters, how tiny particles can move through the body, and what scientists learned while studying dust from debris removal in urban burn areas. Dr. Kleeman explains the unexpected discovery of nanoparticle chromium and why burned homes, vehicles, electronics, artificial turf, and other materials may contribute to unusual air quality risks after a fire.