Environmental Testing Reveals Toxic Metals Near Los Angeles Gas Leak

Homes located near a gas well blowout that spewed the nation’s largest-known release of methane had higher levels of toxic metals that could have caused symptoms Los Angeles residents have suffered from for months, public health officials said Friday. Tests found barium, manganese and vanadium more frequently and in higher concentrations in dust in homes located near the Aliso Canyon gas storage facility, The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said. The contaminants could be responsible for eye, nose, throat and skin irritation, but are not expected to cause long-term problems, the report said.