Krista Copelan’s home didn’t burn in the Eaton Fire. But for months afterward, it was filled with poisonous traces of things that did.
Arsenic from treated wood and pesticides in the soil. Copper, likely from the wiring systems of the thousands of homes reduced to ash. Lead, discovered on the floor of her daughter’s bedroom, from old paint and leaded gasoline that leached into the ground only to be vaporized by flames.
And on Copelan’s kitchen floor: beryllium.
A little-known earth metal prized for being lighter than aluminum but > more rigid than steel, beryllium is safely used commercially in numerous products, including electronics and cars.
But when heated, objects containing beryllium can release the metal as microscopic particles that infiltrate the lungs. The substance is so dangerous that even a minuscule concentration in air over time — equivalent to a few grains of salt in an Olympic-size swimming pool — can spur development of cancer cells, or a lifelong and sometimes fatal respiratory disease.
Not a scientist, but I am wondering if maybe beryllium could be found naturally in the soil?
Another thought: Wikipedia says that the gemstones emerald and aquamarine contain beryllium. Thousands of houses were burned in the fire. Maybe the source is burned gemstones in the houses?
Highly unlikely, the melting point of those materials is higher than most house fires. The boiling point would be even higher. Even then, the amount of beryllium in all of those gems combined wouldnt be enough to significantly impact the air quality.
House fires can’t melt gemstone beams
You heard it here first, these fires were an inside job.
Highly unlikely they contribute much, but emeralds don’t really melt, and certainly don’t boil. They just decompose.
Thanks for giving me this interesting and completely worthless rabbit-hole. Now I know way more about the manufacture of synthetic emeralds than I could ever possibly need.