Inter-Institutional Air Quality Study: 2025 Los Angeles

This study is not:

  • Not providing immediate results. It may take months to years for the complete data analysis and results, depending on the research criteria of each institution.

  • Not accepting ash samples from areas outside Greater Los Angeles.

  • Not providing medical, insurance, or legal advice or documentation.

  • Not accepting samples collected from trespassing.

  • Not accepting ash created from fireplaces, barbeques, or intentional fire sources.

The “Inter-Institutional Air Quality Study 2025 Los Angeles” study will be publishing studies regarding toxic air quality pollutants unique to Urban Wildfires. The inter-institutional effort is to collect large quantities of comprehensive air quality measurements along with residual and transported ash. Ashes will be homogenized, characterized for toxic metals, and then made available to the wide scientific community.

This study is:

  • Accepting ash quantities of a minimum of two tablespoons per sample. Less than this amount can not be analyzed, with no exceptions. 

  • Eagerly accepting large samples, up to a gallon of ash, per location.

  • Accepting ash samples from residents impacted by the January 2025 Los Angeles Fires.

  • Collecting indoor and outdoor ash samples from residences or public property. 

  • Prioritizing ash samples from urban wildfires, such as burned homes or structures.

Scientific Study Leads

  • Dr. Nicholas Spada

    Dr. Nicholas Spada of the University of California, Davis Air Quality Research Center

    Email: njspada@ucdavis.edu

  • Dr. Ira Leifer

    Dr. Ira Leifer of Bubbleology Research International; University of California, Santa Barbara

    Email: ira.leifer@bubbleology.com

  • Dr. Mohammed Baalousha

    Dr. Mohammed Baalousha of the University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health

    Email: mbaalous@mailbox.sc.edu

Photo courtesy of Shelly Magier, 2025

Sample collection

PASSFL was trained to collect ash samples for the Woolsey Fire study. When the Los Angeles fires began, PASSFL was contacted by air quality scientist who needed help to collect samples for the “Inter-Institutional Air Quality Study 2025 Los Angeles.” PASSFL has volunteered to collect ash and air quality samples as a service to our community.

We apologize that due to capacity limitations, PASSFL has not been able to help every person who has expressed interest and are not accepting new sample locations at this time.

Self Sample Protocol

You can send your ash to be analyzed for the study using the Citizen Science instructions.

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