Study links post-wildfire metal residues to lasting lung damage in Maui residents
Researchers discovered that residents near the 2023 Maui wildfires have higher concentrations of toxic metals in their bodies, which correlate with impaired lung function up to a year and a half after the fires.
In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, University of Hawaii scientists examined urine from roughly 1,400 Maui adults and identified substantially higher amounts of metals such as arsenic, cadmium, copper, antimony, manganese, barium and others compared with U.S. biomonitoring data. The highest spikes—antimony nearly 40 times, manganese 3.8 times, barium 2.3 times and arsenic 2.2 times—were observed in people living closest to the Lahaina, Wailuku and Kahului areas most affected by the August 2023 wildfires.
Elevated metal burdens were associated with abnormal lung function, including reduced capacity and difficulty moving air. The researchers attribute the metals to combustion of buildings, cars and electronic devices, highlighting a complex exposure mix beyond burned vegetation. They call for longer-term air-quality surveillance and cleanup of contaminated soot and soil, noting that climate-driven increases in wildfire intensity could make such lingering health impacts more common. Co-author Ruben Juarez emphasized that disaster response should extend beyond the visible emergency to address lingering environmental hazards.
Why it matters
The findings show that wildfire smoke can leave lasting toxic residues that harm respiratory health long after flames are out.
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