Air

To understand and mitigate the environmental and human health impacts of wildfires, we study the mobilization, transport, and fate of metals and other contaminants released during wildland and wildland–urban interface (WUI) fires. Our work spans local to continental scales, examining how combustion processes, fuel sources, and atmospheric transport control the chemical composition of wildfire smoke and its deposition across landscapes. By integrating data science approaches with airborne and ground-based sampling, we assess how fire-derived contaminants influence air quality and contribute to population-level exposure risks.

At the urban and community scale, we investigate the chemical and physical properties of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and the long-term persistence of heavy metals deposited into soils following wildfire events. Using field sampling, laboratory-based microscopic and spectroscopic analyses, and high-resolution, house-by-house soil sampling, we evaluate how contaminants accumulate, redistribute, and respond to remediation and seasonal changes. Our main goal is to identify exposure pathways, assess remediation effectiveness, and address environmental concerns in fire-prone communities. Through community-engaged and policy-relevant research, we aim to translate wildfire science into actionable strategies that protect air quality, soil health, and human well-being.

Our research areas include:

• Continental transport and deposition of metals from wildfire smoke
• Controls on wildfire smoke inorganic chemistry and PM2.5 toxicity
• Post-fire heavy metal contamination in urban and residential soils
• Evaluating remediation strategies and long-term exposure risks in WUI communities