Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma
The ash created by the various October 2007 fires may contain
hazardous chemicals, and San Diego County's public health officer
is urging caution when handling ash.
"The ash particle's more than just the wood. It's synthetic
materials found in people's homes," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the
county's public heath officer. "The best measure is to protect
yourself from the exposure."
Some of those materials may contain chemicals linked to cancer.
The quantity and length of exposure would determine the threshold
of causing cancer, and while there is no definite evidence that
the ash will cause any additional cancer Wooten notes that
precautionary measures will reduce exposure.
"Any ash will contain small amounts of cancer-causing chemicals,
so the best measure is to try to protect yourself," Wooten said.
That protection against exposure includes contact with skin as
well as inhalation, and protective apparel should be worn during
clean-up efforts. "People should wear gloves, long-sleeve shirts
and long pants to avoid skin contact with the ash material,"
Wooten said. "Also people should wear a mask."
Wooten warned that while dust masks protect against finer
particles, they must be fit-tested in order to provide optimal
protection.
Wooten noted that wet cloths should be used to clean toys and
countertops. Indoor and outdoor floor surfaces should be cleaned
with a wet mop, and Wooten recommends spraying a mist on those
surfaces prior to commencing the cleaning.
Wooten also reminded residents to wash pets and food grown on the
property. Wooten noted that homegrown food includes gardens as
well as fruit trees. Wooten added that parents should not let
their children play in or with the ash.
Wooten also noted that vacuum cleaners should have adequate
filters. "The best recommendation is to use a vacuum cleaner
that has a HEPA filter," she said.
Wooten also recommended placing ash in a plastic trash bag before
discarding in garbage cans.
Although the chemicals in the ash might not be sufficient to
cause cancer, other health risks also merit precautionary
measures. "For those healthy individuals these materials can
affect the eyes," Wooten said.
In addition to producing tears and eye irritation, coughing and
nasal congestion can be caused by exposure. The exposure can
also exacerbate respiratory and heart problems for people with
those conditions.
Wooten also noted that individuals may opt to let someone else
clean up the debris. "If the clean-up is too extreme, people
might want to get professional services," she said.
Wooten advised property owners to coordinate with their insurance
companies before contracting for those professional debris
removal services.
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