Maui wildfire survivors show elevated metals, lung harm

A new study finds residents near the 2023 Maui wildfires had elevated levels of metals linked to lung harm up to 18 months after the fires. University of Hawaii researchers tested urine from 1,400 adults, finding arsenic, cadmium, copper and antimony concentrations well above U.S. benchmarks. Higher metal levels correlated with reduced lung function, suggesting post-wildfire air quality needs longer monitoring.