Honolulu Civil Beat has reported that Maui wildfire survivors living or working in the fire-damaged areas of Lahaina show higher signs of long-term toxin exposure.
Researchers with the University of Hawaiʻi’s Maui Wildfire Exposure Study said urine testing of more than 1,200 fire survivors indicates the burn zone may remain contaminated.
Preliminary findings suggest elevated levels of heavy metals associated with health conditions including respiratory and cardiovascular issues, mental health problems and an increased risk of cancer.
Residents who have returned to the burn zone were more likely to report negative health outcomes compared with survivors who have not been in the area regularly.
State health officials had previously said Lahaina was safe for rebuilding after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed debris clearance in September 2024.
Maria Linz, a Lahaina resident and program manager with Hawaiʻi Community Lending, said she has continued to worry about the safety of her home environment.
Linz said: “I am terrified about the health impacts and the future for everyone in Lahaina. To this day, the dust that comes in isn’t the same. The dust now is black. It used to be red.”
She explained that her family left the home temporarily due to concerns for her mother and son, although they later returned.
Other residents described dark clouds of ash and dust that swept through neighborhoods months after the August 2023 wildfire.
Despite reassurances from state health officials, many survivors remain cautious about rebuilding and returning.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reported in 2024 that it removed more than 400,000 tons of debris and sampled soil from cleared properties to ensure safety.
According to the Hawaiʻi Department of Health, soil, sand and water testing, as well as blood screening of 557 survivors for lead exposure, did not detect harmful levels of contaminants.
Officials said the absence of elevated lead exposure was a reliable indicator that other toxic metals were not present in amounts affecting health.
The Department of Health stated that residents could be reassured by these findings, though some researchers questioned the scope of testing and its ability to reflect wider conditions.
The Corps said results of property-specific soil samples are only available to individual property owners upon request.
University of Hawaiʻi researcher Ruben Juarez said people living in the burn zone reported worse health outcomes after moving back home.
Juarez noted that Corps testing focused on the “ash footprint” of burned buildings, which may not capture contamination across other parts of properties.
Dr. John R. Balmes, professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley, said: “I’m not surprised at all that the people who have been exposed more are having more problems. There is still ash that comes down from the smoke. I’m sure there’s been an effort made to clean the burn area, but can you get every single bit of soil that might contain toxic materials?”
He added that while public health risks have likely been reduced since debris removal, complete elimination of toxins could not be guaranteed.
Jessica Yu of Stanford University said wildfire contaminants can persist for long periods and spread miles beyond the fire site.
According to Juarez, about 20% of participants showed elevated levels of harmful metals such as arsenic and nickel.
Many of those affected had been living or working in the burn zone during the study period.
Participants with higher toxin levels displayed reduced lung function, elevated blood pressure and worse mental health compared with other survivors.
Juarez said researchers had not been able to test soil samples from the burn zone, nor could they definitively confirm the source of exposure.
The study also does not include individuals unaffected by the fires, which would provide a baseline for typical exposure levels on Maui.
Co-lead researcher Alika Maunakea told lawmakers that more monitoring was needed to assess ongoing and potential re-exposures as rebuilding continues.
Maunakea said: “We suspect it could still be either present or there are potential sources of re-exposures in the environment. We don’t know.”
Some residents, including hotel worker Damion Emeson, said government statements had not reassured them. Emeson said: “There’s a lack of trust with certain government agencies. It’s not their families that are living there.”
Emeson said he plans to undergo heavy metal testing and attend more medical appointments.
Linz said she has felt some relief since debris removal and volunteer remediation work, but added: “We won’t know for years if there was an impact or not. By the time you know, it’s too late.”
The findings highlight the importance of long-term environmental monitoring after major wildfire incidents.
Fire and safety professionals can take note of how cleanup strategies, testing methods and public health communications affect community trust and safety outcomes.
The case illustrates that even after official clearance and large-scale remediation, residents and workers may face ongoing exposure concerns.
This emphasizes the need for continuous collaboration between environmental scientists, health authorities and emergency management professionals when planning recovery in fire-damaged areas.
Maui wildfire survivors living or working in Lahaina show higher signs of toxin exposure.
The University of Hawaiʻi’s Maui Wildfire Exposure Study tested more than 1,200 fire survivors.
About 20% of participants had elevated levels of arsenic and nickel.
Participants with higher toxin levels reported worse lung function, blood pressure and mental health.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it removed more than 400,000 tons of debris.
Soil testing was limited to the ash footprint of burned structures.
State health officials said lead screening of 557 survivors showed no widespread contamination.
Researchers questioned whether this testing fully reflected ongoing environmental risks.
Residents reported continued dust and ash exposure in homes and neighborhoods.
Lawmakers were told further monitoring is required to assess ongoing and repeated exposures.
Community members expressed distrust in official assurances of safety.
Researchers advised using masks and air filtration to reduce dust exposure.
