County's public health officer advises caution

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.