It might look like something straight out of a movie, but chances you’ve seen images of some parts of Los Angeles covered in pink dust. Thousands of gallons of this substance were dropped last week since the LA Wildfires started, but what is it?
This vibrant dust is actually a fire retardant. Known as Phos-Chek, it’s a product sold by the company Perimeter. It has been used to combat wildfires in the US since 1963 and is the primary long-term fire retardant used by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
What’s a fire retardant?
A fire retardant is a substance designed to slow or stop the spread of fire and lower its intensity. It usually works by triggering chemical reactions that reduce the flammability of materials or delay their combustion. Essentially, fire retardants either block the fire physically or start a chemical process that prevents it from spreading.
How does pink dust fire retardant work?
As explained by The Malibu Times, the pink powder is composed of 10 percent ammonium phosphate and 10 percent proprietary ingredients, coloring agents and corrosion inhibitors. Its red and pink hues act as visual aids for pilots and firefighters to identify treated areas, although the color fades after a few days of sunlight exposure.
When dropped, Phos-Chek coats vegetation and fire-prone land to slow the fire’s spread. It works by cooling and coating fuels, depleting oxygen, and altering how plant materials burn.
Is the pink dust fire retardant safe?
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences states that while flame retardants can be beneficial in certain products, growing scientific evidence suggests that many of these chemicals can be harmful to both animals and humans.
Children are especially at risk due to their developing brains and organs. Behaviors like hand-to-mouth actions and playing close to the floor raise the chances of children coming into contact with these harmful chemicals.