Public Health Recommends Professional Comprehensive Indoor Cleaning in Porter Ranch Homes

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) believes metal contaminants may be contributing to the short-term health symptoms that residents have continued to experience after the Aliso Canyon gas leak was sealed in February 2016. While results of Public Health’s testing of household surface dust in Porter Ranch homes revealed that the levels of metal contaminants are low and as such do not pose long- term health impact, they are known to cause symptoms such as short-term respiratory problems, and eye, nose, throat and skin irritation. Metals contained in household dust can be inhaled, ingested, or lead to skin exposure and may be the source of reported symptoms. Therefore, Public Health recommends that homes should be comprehensively cleaned.

These metals are consistent with those found in well drilling fluid, which suggests they originated from the Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Storage facility. Public Health has directed SoCalGas to offer and implement a comprehensive indoor cleaning protocol, designed by Public Health, at no cost to the resident.

Public Health has published a “Returning Home after Indoor Environmental Testing” fact sheet that outlines safety measures for residents and recommendations for professional comprehensive cleaning of all household surfaces to make sure residual contaminants in dust are removed.

Public Health will host a community meeting on Thursday, May 19 at 6:00 p.m. at Porter Ranch Community School so that residents can get accurate information about the indoor environmental testing. Public Health experts will be available to answer questions regarding the findings and recommendations.

On Friday, May 20, 2016, the County will ask the Court to modify the relocation program to require SoCalGas to pay for interior house cleaning for currently relocated residents who elect to have homes cleaned prior to return and to have five days after completion of the cleaning to return home. For those relocated residents who choose not to have their homes cleaned by SoCalGas, the County will request a minimum of eight days to vacate their relocation housing and return home.

To view the directive to SoCalGas, fact sheet and meeting details, visit the Public Health website at: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/gasleak.

The Department of Public Health is committed to protecting and improving the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Public Health comprises nearly 4,000 employees and has an annual budget exceeding $900 million. To learn more about the LA County Department of Public Health and the work they do, visit PublicHealth.LACounty.gov/, and follow Public Health on social media at twitter.com/LAPublicHealth, facebook.com/LAPublicHealth, and youtube.com/LAPublicHealth.

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