Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Concerned about lead from the fires? LA County will test your blood for free

If you’ve been concerned about what may be in your body after this year’s firestorm, there’s a new way you can find out.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is offering free testing to help people check lead levels in their blood. It’s available through May, although it could be extended.
Why does testing matter?
Wildfire smoke, ash and debris can contain harmful substances like lead. Prolonged exposure can lead to serious long-term health issues, according to the California Department of Public Health. Lead can be removed through chelation therapy — a treatment that binds to metals in the blood and takes them out of the system.
In this case of a wildfire, firefighters are typically at higher risk for that prolonged exposure because they’re in the thick of the debris for extended periods. But children are particularly vulnerable, at risk of learning disabilities and developmental delays as they grow. In adults, lead buildup can cause things like high blood pressure and kidney damage.
While the CDC has guidelines to measure elevated lead levels, there isn’t a known safe level of it in the body. That’s why it’s important to take proactive steps if you were around the fires. Elevated lead levels have already been found in soil downwind from the Eaton Fire.
The county has already started testing people — and the results seem encouraging so far. As of its latest update on April 7, none of its nearly 200 tests came back above the CDC’s blood lead reference value, which is 3.5 micrograms per deciliter.
Where to go to get tested
There are three ways you can get your blood checked for lead:
- Go to one of the county’s temporary mobile testing locations
- Make an appointment through Quest Labs
- Ask your doctor to do it
The county’s testing is being done at these locations and times, though more may be added in the coming weeks.
Typically no one is turned away, according to the public health department, but it does verify whether someone is from a burn area by collecting their address.
Arts and Literacy Festival
- When: Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Where: Virginia Avenue Park at 2200 Virginia Ave., Santa Monica
Eaton Health Village/Pasadena Seventh-Day Adventist Church
- When: Sunday, April 27 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Where: 1280 East Washington Blvd., Pasadena
Malibu Library
- When: Saturday, May 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Where: 23519 West Civic Center Way, Malibu
La Pintoresca Park
- When: Saturday, May 24 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Where: 45 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena
For a free Quest Lab test, you can call (800) LA-4-LEAD to schedule it.
Insurance isn’t required unless you’re using your own provider.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

-
The FCC voted to end E-Rate discounts for library hotspot lending and school bus Wi-Fi.
-
About half the Pacific Airshow’s 2025 lineup has been grounded because of the federal government shutdown.
-
USC says it’s reviewing the letter also sent to eight other prestigious schools nationwide. California's governor vowed that any California universities that sign will lose state funding.
-
Scientists say La Niña is likely, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a dry winter in Southern California.
-
According to a grand jury report the contractor took advantage of strained relations and political pressures to “force” the city to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to settle disputes.
-
Administrators say the bargaining units should be dismissed, or that they have no standing. One campus is going after the federal agency in charge of union activity.