The current water situation in Altadena has raised concerns due to post-fire contamination and system pressure losses, leading to potential exposure to harmful chemicals like benzene and other VOCs. This project is the first step toward a crowd-sourced contamination mapping system for water, soil, and air. By gathering real-world data, we can create a transparent resource for communities to assess their environmental risks.
If you are concerned about your water quality, you can schedule a free VOC measurement by contacting us via email. The idea is I schedule a bunch of people and come out all at once and use a calibrated gas detector, which is equipped with a specialized benzene PID sensor capable of detecting VOCs at parts-per-billion (ppb) levels. The device provides real-time air quality readings after running a hot shower, helping to identify potential chemical exposure risks in your home.
For scheduling and inquiries, please send an email to contact@toxicitymap.com.
Many volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including benzene, can become airborne at lower temperatures. By running hot water in an enclosed space like a shower and measuring the air quality, we can get a rough proxy for the chemical contamination in the water. More importantly, it provides a direct measurement of the air we breathe, highlighting potential exposure risks.
This project is being run on a shoestring budget with personal funding. I've called Altadena home for 16 years. Any donations are greatly appreciated to help expand testing capabilities. The ultimate goal is to acquire a used ICP-OES spectrometer for low-cost heavy metal analysis, offering affordable testing to the community.