The Pasadena Unified School District will work with the Pasadena Public Health Department to test lead levels in the soil near area schools, in the wake of recent findings that areas downwind of the Eaton fire had levels of lead exceeding public health thresholds, Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco said Sunday night.

“Some of these results show elevated levels of lead at locations near some of our schools,” Blanco said in a districtwide letter on Sunday. “We are working with the Pasadena Public Health Department, which is analyzing the results and developing guidance for schools.”

Public health officials said the results are less cause for panic, and more a call for further testing to be conducted in areas downwind of the Eaton and Palisades fires, which PUSD appeared intent to do.

Blanco also said the district will be “contracting with a qualified environmental consultant to conduct soil sampling at campuses potentially affected by wind-borne ash and debris.”

“These efforts reflect how seriously we take our responsibility to provide a healthy learning environment for all,” Blanco continued.

The soil sample study was contracted by the county and conducted by Roux Inc., aiming to evaluate contaminant levels in and around burn zones after the January fires.

Children are especially susceptible to lead exposure because it is ingested through hand-to-mouth contact with contaminated soil and items. Exposure at their age can lead to developmental delays, according to public health officials.

Lisa Kroese is PTA president at Don Benito Fundamental School in Pasadena.

She said she was interested in having a better understanding of whether the lead levels because of the January fires, or simply a result of having older, lead-painted buildings.

“Having information is better than not knowing if they hadn’t done any of the testing,” Kroese said. “Personally, being a Realtor, I suspected that we probably had lead in the soil just because of the age of the buildings…even though it’s not used now as it’s been used in the past. Anytime you have any deterioration of that outer layer, it is exposed and gets in the soil and in the air.”

The district was heavily impacted by the Eaton fire. Franklin Elementary School, Eliot Arts Magnet Middle School, Odyssey Charter School, Pasadena Rosebud Academy, Oak Knoll Montessori and Aveson School of Leaders suffered extensive damage in the fire, according to the district.

The damage ranged from all-out destruction of schools to the loss of buildings on other campuses.

The L.A. County Board of Supervisors is also reacting to the soil sample study.

Today the board will consider directing $3 million to help residents with the cost of further testing. If the motion authored by Supervisor Kathryn Barger passes, it would reallocate $3 million from a county Lead Hazard Mitigation Program, to support residents looking to test their own properties for possible lead contamination.

Soil sample study findings and accompanying analysis can be found on the Public Health Post-Fire Assessment page: publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/wildfire/post_fire_assessment_plan.htm.