Maui's cleanup will take a long time, and as the gravity sinks in and survivors sift through ash health experts are warning what's left from the fire could still affect people's health.
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00:00 Maui's cleanup will take a long time as the gravity sets in of just how awful this tragedy is.
00:07 And as survivors sift through ash, health experts are warning that what is left from this fire could still affect people's health.
00:15 Sifting through the burnt rubble and cleaning up brings health risks to Maui residents and responders.
00:21 The soil is now contaminated. The water is contaminated where the harbor is, as well as the air is contaminated.
00:29 Commissions worsen when a large fire like the ones in Maui include items like construction materials, cars, paints and appliances.
00:36 West Maui canceled community weekend meetings because they're worried about air quality and ash.
00:40 Hawaii's Department of Health has told Lahaina and Upper Kula in the western and central parts of the island not to drink the water over the weekend.
00:47 They're also concerned about ash containing cancer-causing chemicals like lead, arsenic and asbestos.
00:53 Those hazards could impact brain, lung, kidney, liver or blood functioning.
00:58 Folks who have underlying lung diseases like asthma, COPD, chronic scarring of the lungs would be more susceptible to this.
01:06 Mike Shea is caring for patients in Maui. His biggest concern are those with chronic health conditions.
01:11 Children and seniors are also more vulnerable.
01:13 Some of the symptoms would be chronic cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, burning in the chest.
01:21 FEMA and the EPA say they're working to test drinking water.
01:24 But until then, for those who live there, everything from brushing their teeth to laundry must be done with bottled water.
01:30 Lindsay Thies, Scripps News, San Francisco.