The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has launched an interactive online dashboard that provides the public with access to environmental and personal health monitoring in the wake of the January wildfires.
Offering a visual overview of monitoring locations across L.A. County, the dashboard – part of the Los Angeles County Post-Fire Air, Soil and Water Assessment Plan – was developed in collaboration with regional and state partners, LACDPH said in a media release issued Wednesday.
The technology offers users a visual overview of monitoring locations, including places where assessments are being conducted to measure four key metrics:
- Air: Evaluation of indoor and outdoor air quality to detect pollutants that may affect respiratory health
- Surface: Testing for contaminants on indoor surfaces, soil, coastal sand and wildfire debris to determine exposure risks
- Water: Sampling of coastal waters, freshwater sources and pools to monitor for wildfire-related contaminations
- Human health: Voluntary blood lead testing to determine potential exposure, particularly for children and other vulnerable individuals
“This dashboard is part of Los Angeles County’s commitment to transparency, public engagement and community well-being,” LACDPH officials said in Wednesday’s media release. “By making this information accessible, the department aims to empower residents with timely, science-based insights into potential environmental health impacts of the recent wildfires.”
The data collected and shared through the dashboard will continue to inform long-term recovery efforts and guide health recommendations; however, officials noted that the technology currently does not have data for all locations, such as paths from mobile monitoring units.
That information will be added to the new dashboard once it is available, Public Health said.