Free soil lead tests

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Climate and Environment

Free soil lead tests

For homes downwind of the Eaton Fire

By Jacob Margolis

Published May 21, 2025 2:21 PM

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A partially burned down building with beige walls. The mountains can be seen in the background and a person wearing a green sweatshirt and jeans walks by.

A person walks past the remains of senior living facility which was destroyed in the Eaton Fire, as wildfires cause damage and loss through the LA region on January 11, 2025 in Pasadena, California.

(

Mario Tama

Getty Images

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Topline:

Those living downwind from where the Eaton Fire burned can now get their soil tested for lead, for free, the L.A. County Department of Public Health announced this week.

Why this matters: An L.A. County Public Health study found elevated levels of lead in soil around homes outside of the Eaton Fire burn area. The finding indicates that as the older housing stock burned, lead-based paint aerosolized and settled on nearby properties.

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How to get free soil lead tests if you live downwind from the Eaton Fire

How to access the program: Check if your property qualifies for testing. If it does, you can gather soil samples and drop them off at a public health site in Altadena. You should receive your test results within two weeks. Learn more about the process here.

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