New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

By María Paula Rubiano
Environmental Health News
January 24, 2025
Category: Health & Safety
Region: United States

A team from the University of Southern California, found that between 2009 and 2021, wildfire retardant application in the U.S. released at least 380,000 kg (more than 400 tons) of at least four toxic metals into the environment. Toxic metals — like cadmium, chromium and vanadium — accumulate in ecosystems and organisms and are linked to organ damage, cancer and neurological disorders. “The heavy metals report from has been a catalyst. It has created internal discussions about using these retardants,” said Andy Stahl, the executive director of the nonprofit watchdog group Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics, who was not involved with the study. …“The challenge for the Forest Service is they’ve done such a good job marketing this magic red elixir, that it’s hard for them to back away and say, ‘oh, it turns out that the stuff we’ve been pouring all over your forests and your backyards and your residential areas is actually poisonous,’” Stahl said.

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