Study finds toxic metal exposure persists months after Maui wildfires

University of Hawai‘i researchers examined urine samples from about 1,400 adults as part of the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study, one of the nation’s largest investigations of post‑fire health effects.

The analysis, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that participants living near the August 2023 Maui fires had markedly higher levels of several toxic metals, including arsenic, cadmium and copper, compared with baseline expectations.

Elevated metal concentrations were still detectable up to 18 months after the fires, a period during which the metals can contribute to respiratory irritation and other health problems.

The authors suggest that air‑quality monitoring and cleanup efforts should extend well beyond the immediate fire period to address lingering contamination in smoke, ash and soil, especially as climate‑driven wildfires become more frequent.