NPR (KPCC-FM) | "New UCLA study suggests homes in burn zones have elevated pollutant levels"

UCLA Fielding's Dr. Michael Jerrett and Dr. Yifang Zhu, both professors in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, were interviewed on KPCC-FM's "Air Talk" (NPR) program about their research that found elevated levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in some homes in burn areas from the 2025 Los Angeles County wildfires.

The study found these chemicals to be in higher concentrations after the fires than during them, suggesting that there is still ongoing emission from smoke-impacted materials.

“If people return home without having proper remediation done to try to eliminate the VOCs from the soft materials and from the walls, it is possible that they will have continued re-emission of these volatile organic compounds for extended periods of time,” said Jerrett, who co-authored the research with Zhu. "It's really important that people, if they are going back into their homes in the burn zones, that they ensure that they are getting their homes properly tested by professionals and if necessary remediated.” 

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