Fire and Water: Investigating Drinking Water Contamination in Paradise, California after the Camp Fire

项目摘要/摘要 2018年11月的营地大火烧毁了加利福尼亚州天堂和马加利亚的小镇，烧毁了近 14,000所房屋，但该地区约1,700所房屋完好无损。返乡的居民现在面临着 意想不到的威胁-饮用水中的苯污染。在公众中测得的浓度 供水系统很高，但参差不齐。级别范围从未检测到到十亿分之923(Ppb)， 到目前为止，天堂自来水公司收集的样本中有36%的苯含量超过了最高限量 污染物水平(MCL)为1 ppb。目前还没有在这些家庭和居民内部进行系统的测试 正在返回占领未被烧毁的房屋，造成了紧迫的环境卫生局势。一种类似的 此前曾报告过一次问题，一年前在塔布斯大火后的圣罗莎，只有13户家庭受到影响。 此前还没有就这一问题进行过研究调查。这项研究旨在回答 以下问题：(1)苯和其他挥发性有机化合物(VOC)在室内的浓度是多少 家庭？(2)水系统中是否还有其他污染物，无论是受管制的还是非管制的？和(3)是 有关于污染源的线索吗？我们将从10%的家庭(大约175户)中收集样本 在火灾影响地区)，包括在紧邻火区以外的一些比较样本。在首字母之后 对于VOCs的分析，将选择多达20个浓度较高的家庭进行密集采样， 包括随时间推移的多个样本，整个家庭的不同位置，以及在服务中的样本 联系。除了VOCs外，这些样本还将使用创新的 无针对性的分析。在这个相同的家庭子集，我们将对苯和其他 挥发性有机化合物。我们将向参与的个人提供个人结果，并向社会提供总结结果。这 该项目将允许将有关潜在饮用水暴露的信息纳入正在进行的研究中 加州大学戴维斯分校环境健康科学中心的空气和火山灰污染物，以及火灾受害者的健康数据。 这项工作将与当地机构和社区合作共同完成，以解决 对意外暴露和健康的直接担忧。它还将作为预防的基础 这样的暴露在未来的野火后果中。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The Camp fire in November 2018 decimated the towns of Paradise and Magalia, California, burning nearly 14,000 homes but leaving about 1,700 homes in the area intact. Returning residents are now facing an unexpected threat – benzene contamination in the drinking water. The measured concentrations in the public water distribution system are high, but spotty. Levels range from non-detect to 923 parts per billion (ppb), with 36% of the samples collected by the Paradise water utility so far showing benzene above the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 1 ppb. No systematic testing has yet been done inside the homes, and residents are returning to occupy homes that did not burn, creating an urgent environmental health situation. A similar problem was reported once previously, a year ago in Santa Rosa after the Tubbs fire, affecting only 13 homes. No research investigations have been conducted previously on this issue. This study is designed to answer the following questions: (1) What are the benzene and other volatile organic compounds (VOC) concentrations inside homes? (2) Are there other contaminants, whether regulated or non-regulated, in the water system? and (3) Are there clues to the source of the contamination? We will collect samples from 10% of homes (approximately 175 homes) in the fire-affected area, including some comparison samples outside the immediate fire zone. After initial analyses for VOCs, up to 20 homes with elevated concentrations will be selected to undergo intensive sampling, including multiple samples over time, different locations throughout the home, and sampling at the service connection. In addition to VOCs, these samples will be analyzed for additional contaminants using innovative non-targeted analyses. In this same subset of homes, we will conduct air monitoring for benzene and other VOCs. We will provide individual results to participating individuals and summary results to the community. This project will allow incorporation of information on potential drinking water exposures into ongoing research by the U.C. Davis Environmental Health Sciences Center on air and ash contaminants, and health data from fire victims. This work will be done in conjunction and collaboration with local agencies and community efforts to address immediate concerns about unexpected exposures and health. It will also serve as a foundation for preventing such exposures in the aftermath of future wild fires.