Heal the Bay has released their latest water contamination test results on March 27, following tests conducted along the coast of Santa Monica in response to recent wildfires in Southern California.
The local organization undertook these tests to assess the impact of the fires on ocean water quality.
In a related discussion, Nicholas Hawco, an assistant professor of Marine Geology and Geochemistry at the University of Hawaii, shared insights from his experience with coastal areas affected by wildfires, including the Maui fires of August 2023.
Hawco emphasized that residents and local organizations play a crucial role in addressing environmental issues due to their proximity and engagement within the community.
“They’re the ones who are showing up all the time to community meetings,” Hawco said.
He believes that local groups can effectively remind officials at various government levels about the community’s concerns.
Naomi Meurice, a water quality data associate specialist at Heal the Bay, led a team that identified contamination levels at various coastal sites.
“We’re sort of like the watchdogs in the area,” Meurice said, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to monitoring ocean safety.
Heal the Bay conducted tests from Paradise Cove to Malibu Cove, covering a series of 10 different sites that were made available to the public on March 27, as stated on their website.
Their assessments utilized the California Ocean Plan to evaluate human health standards for ocean contaminants.
The testing revealed elevated levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in areas like Big Rock and Dockweiler State Beach, which are known to be potential carcinogens.
“It’s not something where if folks are going in the water once for 15 minutes, they’re necessarily going to get sick or have some sort of bad reaction, but it’s more so longer term,” Meurice said.
Residents and beachgoers should exercise caution regarding consistent exposure to these toxins.
Additionally, Heal the Bay tested for beryllium, another heavy metal classified as a carcinogen by the EPA.
While contact with small doses is generally acceptable, frequent surfers and avid beachgoers should take precautions to avoid overexposure, especially since sites like Las Flores and Big Rock tested significantly above the human health average.
The Big Rock area is of particular concern as homes along the coast were devastated by the fires.
“When the high tide goes up it’s basically hitting up against those houses and hitting up against the burned materials,” Meurice said.
During her testing at Big Rock, Meurice reported that she encountered various debris along the shore, including household materials like washing machines, nails, and wood, which contributed to elevated beryllium levels.
Contaminants such as copper, chromium, nickel, and lead also exceeded average levels in the testing results.
Beaches located within the burn zones, stretching from Las Flores down to Santa Monica State Beach, are particularly burdened with debris and contaminants, according to Meurice.
“Heal the Bay is suggesting that people avoid both the beach water and the sand on the beaches from those areas,” Meurice stated.
The Department of Public Health is conducting its own testing, including sand sampling and water quality evaluations, and Meurice noted that their findings align with those of Heal the Bay.
The Department has issued an ocean water advisory from Las Flores to Santa Monica State Beach at Montana, advising the public to refrain from entering the water in these designated areas.
Conversely, Heal the Bay recommends avoiding both the beach sand and water at these locations.
“Just try to be a little more cautious knowing that there’s a lot of debris on the beaches,” Meurice advised.
While Heal the Bay has issued cautionary warnings, Meurice emphasized the need for vigilance even on beaches located outside of the burn zone.
Visitors may still encounter remnants of burned structures, nails, and glass along the shore.
However, some beaches that present a lower risk include those in the South Bay and north of the burn zone, which ultimately leads to individual decisions by the public regarding their safety.
“ We’re urging people to just be careful like if you’re bringing kids or dogs to the beach not letting them eat anything on the beach,” Meurice cautioned.
On a positive note, many contaminants tested by Heal the Bay were found to be non-detected, indicating that their levels were too low to register on their scale.
This suggests that dilution is occurring in the ocean, according to Meurice.
“We’ve never really seen anything like this before, to have a fire burn so close to the ocean,” she remarked.
With the numerous fires that Malibu has faced over the years, Meurice noted that she had never encountered one where the fire crossed the Pacific Coast Highway, creating direct contact between the burn area and the ocean.
Although Heal the Bay will not conduct further testing due to resource limitations, Meurice stated that they will continue to analyze data from the Department of Public Health.
Hawco’s team at the University of Hawaii has also been actively involved in testing ocean water for contamination in the wake of the Maui fires.
It took some time for them to secure funding for testing, but by October 2023, they had initiated tests across 12 sites in West Maui.
One of their main concerns involved winter storms that could bring heavy rainfall, potentially washing ash into the ocean.
Upon encountering the first rains, the results were not as anticipated.
They discovered elevated levels of copper, lead, and zinc in harbor areas, attributed to metal releases from boats docked there during the fires.
Outside of the harbors, however, contamination levels were surprisingly lower than expected.
During the destructive Maui fire, 2,000 homes and buildings were lost, according to NPR.
Many of the structures were situated along the coast, making Hawco’s team apprehensive about the test outcomes.
“It wasn’t as concerning as what we found near the harbors, which we were a little surprised by,” Hawco noted, expressing relief over the findings.
Hawco’s observations highlight the value of perseverance in community advocacy for environmental protection.
He frequently traveled from Oahu to Maui to conduct testing, underscoring the dedication required to address such issues.
“I think just not giving up and keep showing up to community meetings, keep calling offices and reminding them that this is a thing that you’re concerned about is the most effective way to make sure that you know your concerns are being met,” Hawco insisted.
He recognized the advantage that local organizations have in tackling environmental concerns due to their closeness to ongoing issues.
“A lot of the scientist groups like they can come in for a year or two years, but their attention might get pulled somewhere else, so their funding may dry up,” Hawco explained.
“It’s the local communities that sort of keep that long-term investment to really track these things.”
Hawco highlighted the parallels between Heal the Bay’s assessments and those of the University of Hawaii team, noting their initial concerns which turned out to be less severe than anticipated.
“It was actually quite a relief that wasn’t actually what happened,” he stated regarding the absence of significant toxic threats to human health in the water.
Hawco expressed a hope that people will continue to view the ocean as a source of inspiration, enjoyment, and relaxation.
“These perturbations can be short-lived, and they can pass on, and then things can return to normal, as long as the stress isn’t too frequent and too intense,” he said.
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