Researchers investigating the long-term effects of the 2025 firestorms on L.A.’s beaches have found that rarest of things: good news. Even at their peak, lead levels barely surpassed 1 microgram per liter — well below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s aquatic life safety threshold of 8.1 micrograms per liter. “This isn’t something we would flag if we were testing your soil in your yard ,” Held said. The recent findings are consistent with water quality tests the State Water Resources Control Board conducted earlier in 2025. “It’s not just about the fires, but it’s about urbanization and how much our city needs to continue the work of doing testing in the water.”

Source: Los Angeles Times March 20, 2026 14:30 UTC