News | July 2026

USC is offering free soil testing amid Boyle Heights pollution concerns

Concerns of water contamination and air quality were raised during a days-long fire at a Boyle Heights warehouse, but what about other pollutants?

USC’s Contaminant Level Evaluation and Analysis for Neighbors (CLEAN) project is offering free rapid-response soil testing for Boyle Heights and Los Angeles County neighbors. C.L.E.A.N. is a resident-led soil sampling effort where neighbors collect and turn in their own samples to drop boxes across LA County. 

C.L.E.A.N. project manager Max Teirstein described the effect of long-term exposure to polluted soils.

“Continuing to be exposed to these sources of lead can have a neurological impact,” said Teirstein. “It can also increase your risk of certain kinds of cancer. It can also screw with the hormonal system.”