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

项目总结/摘要 2018年11月的营地大火摧毁了加州的天堂镇和马加利亚镇， 14,000所房屋，但该地区约有1,700所房屋完好无损。返回的居民现在面临着一个 意想不到的威胁-饮用水中的苯污染。在公众中测得的浓度 配水系统很高，但参差不齐。水平范围从未检测到十亿分之923（ppb）， 到目前为止，天堂水务公司收集的36%的样本显示苯含量高于最高值。 污染物水平（MCL）为1 ppb。目前还没有在这些家庭内部进行系统的测试， 正在返回没有被烧毁的房屋，造成了紧急的环境卫生状况。类似的 一年前，在圣罗莎发生塔布斯火灾后，只有13户家庭受到影响。 以前没有对这一问题进行过研究调查。这项研究旨在回答 以下问题：（1）室内苯和其他挥发性有机化合物（VOC）的浓度 家园？(2)水系统中是否存在其他污染物，无论是受管制的还是不受管制的？（3）是 找到污染源的线索了吗我们将从10%的家庭（约175个）收集样本， 在火灾影响地区的房屋），包括一些比较样本以外的直接火灾区。经过初步 挥发性有机化合物的分析，多达20个家庭的浓度较高，将选择进行密集采样， 包括随时间的多个样本、整个家庭的不同位置以及在服务中的采样 连接.除了VOC，这些样品将使用创新的 非目标分析。在这同一个家庭的子集，我们将进行空气监测苯和其他 挥发性有机化合物我们将向参与者提供个人结果，并向社区提供摘要结果。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， U.C.戴维斯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共同努力， 对意外暴露和健康的直接担忧。它也将作为预防的基础 在未来的野火之后，这种暴露。

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.