Maui residents were still carrying high levels of toxic metals in their bodies more than a year after the 2023 wildfires, and some showed damaged lung function — bad news for people across the island, not just those in burned neighborhoods.

• A University of Hawaii study of 1,400 adults found high levels of several toxic metals in their urine 6 to 18 months after the fires.
• People with more metal buildup were more likely to have abnormal lung function.
• Exposure and lung problems showed up in Wailuku, Kahului, Kihei and Kula — well outside the areas where buildings burned.
• Some of the metal exposure may predate the fires, since Hawaii's volcanic soil and rock naturally carry metals.

Outlook: A next phase of research is planned to separate fire-related exposure from what was already there and track long-term health effects.