New Indoor Pre-Remediation Testing Guidance

Dr. Andrew Whelton of Purdue and Eric Bollens have issued a new indoor testing guidance document created from lessons learned during the East Palestine train derailment and chemical spill/fires in 2023 and the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires titled After the Wildfire: Building Environmental Testing. It explains the basics of environmental contamination sampling and testing for fire-impacted buildings, aiming to make this information accessible to property owners, as well as local and state health officials who often struggle to find clear guidance. The content draws on questions from fire-affected property owners and insights from reviewing hundreds of home environmental testing reports. It is also useful for inspection, testing, and sampling companies, as well as insurance providers. View the guidance on pre-remediation testing here.