There are still dozens of missing people in areas devastated by fires still active a Los Angeles. There have been 25 confirmed deaths. The authorities of the Californian city said this at a press conference, explaining that the search operations among the rubble left by the fire have not yet been completed Palisades (to the west) and fromEatonwhich burns to the east, in the suburbs of Altadena And Pasadena.
From the intense red of the flames which for days have been devastating entire neighborhoods and kilometers of pink coast retardant liquids dropped from planes in the hope of putting out the fires. Los Angeles is tinged with fuchsia because of Phos-Cheka mixture of chemicals used to extinguish or slow the spread of a fire, which are more resistant than water.
A mix made special by that bright pink color added to ensure firefighters can see it. The result in the metropolis and its surroundings these days is surprising and, in the cinema house, makes one think of the special effects of some film: hills, trees, villas, cars and streets are covered by a colored dust that creeps through the rubble and creates a sharp contrast with the black or dark gray of the areas reduced to ash. Despite being a powerful tool against firesespecially as vast and powerful as those of Los Angelesthe problem with these substances is that, according to some research, they contain toxic heavy metals as chrome And cadmium and other chemicals harmful to human health and the environment.
According to official data, over 440 million gallons of retardant were applied on federal, state, and private lands between 2009 and 2021, which researchers say means more than 400 tons of heavy metals have been released into the environment. Both the government and the company that produces the substance also used in California, Perimeter Solutionsdisputed the analysis, arguing that their retardants have undergone “extensive testing to confirm they meet rigorous standards for safety.”
On the other hand, do not appease the fires involves not only the immediate risk of death and destruction but also that, in the long term, of the damage caused by toxic fumes which can penetrate the lungs and heart. From a recent study on the health effects ofair pollution caused by forest fires it emerged that in United States smoking exposure increased by 77% since 2002 and which globally are responsible for approx 675,000 deaths the year.