El Dorado County (Dec 13 2023) – A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals that wildfires in California may be transforming naturally occurring chromium-3 into its cancer-causing counterpart, hexavalent chromium or chromium-6. Commonly known as the “Erin Brockovich chemical,” chromium-6 poses a significant health risk when inhaled or ingested.
The study focused on burned sites along California’s North Coast, identifying elevated levels of chromium-6 after wildfires. Laboratory experiments indicate that the transformation from chromium-3 to chromium-6 occurs during wildfires due to the oxidation process. Researchers found a 6.5 times higher concentration of toxic chromium in areas with high fire severity.
The study emphasizes the need for increased attention to wildfire-modified chromium and potential health threats, especially for first responders and nearby residents. Factors such as vegetation types fueling the fire and environmental conditions post-wildfire play a role in exposure risks.
The research underscores the broader global threat of dust-borne metals from wildfires and highlights the need for further studies and predictive tools to address the issue. The findings are not limited to California but have implications for fire-prone regions worldwide.
