Los Angeles Wildfires Leave Hexavalent Chromium Pollution in Wake

September 4, 2025 Report: Following California wildfires this January, hexavalent chromium concentrations 200 times higher than normal levels were detected in Los Angeles air. This carcinogen likely originated from flame retardants, with particles smaller than 0.056 micrometers capable of penetrating the blood-brain barrier. Although the South Coast Air Quality Management District deemed “health risks limited,” research models indicate contamination could affect 500,000 residents within a 10-kilometer radius.