Los Angeles Daily News: Standing Homes Air Quality Worsened Over Time in Wildfire Areas
Published:
Our UCLA research on indoor and outdoor volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during and after the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires has been featured in the Los Angeles Daily News.
Los Angeles Daily News
Los Angeles Daily News published an article highlighting our findings that homes which survived the Eaton and Palisades fires but were exposed to ash or smoke saw worsening air quality over time.
Article: UCLA report: Standing homes air quality worsened over time in wildfire areas
Published: January 2, 2026
According to our study, concentrations of volatile organic compounds—benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes—remained significant or even increased after the fires were controlled and outdoor air quality recovered. The research began collecting samples on the second day of the fires and concluded on February 18.
Key Quotes
Dr. Michael Jerrett, professor in UCLA Fielding’s Department of Environmental Health Sciences:
“These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to minimize indoor exposures during the recovery phase. These findings raise concerns about indoor air quality post-wildfire, and the potential for prolonged exposure leading to significant health impacts.”
Dr. Yifang Zhu, professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences:
“Even after wildfires are extinguished, residents may remain at risk of exposure to indoor VOCs. This pattern suggests that smoke-impacted materials within the home could continue to release VOCs into the indoor environment, creating a prolonged source of exposure.”
Mitigation Recommendations
According to UCLA, recommended methods to reduce indoor VOC exposure include:
- Regularly opening windows
- Operating central heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems with filters rated at least minimum efficiency reporting value 13
- Using portable high efficiency particulate air purifiers with charcoal filters when available
Related Research
This media coverage is based on our publication: Indoor and Outdoor Volatile Organic Compound Levels during and after the 2025 Los Angeles Wildfires published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters.