News | Pasadena Now | March 2025

USC Launches Free Lead Testing Program for Los Angeles Communities Affected by Wildfires

The University of Southern California (USC) has launched a new initiative offering free lead testing of soil samples from areas potentially affected by recent Los Angeles wildfires. The Contaminant Level Evaluation & Analysis for Neighborhoods (CLEAN) project is now accepting samples by mail or at three community drop-off locations, including Altadena.

The program, developed by USC’s Department of Earth Sciences and Public Exchange, aims to rapidly evaluate and communicate lead contamination levels in soils and playgrounds in fire-impacted areas. Anyone in Los Angeles concerned about fire impacts on soil can participate in the cost-free program, the project announcement said.