County's public health officer advises caution

The ash created by the various October 2007 fires may contain

hazardous chemicals, and San Diego County's public health officer

is urging caution when handling ash.

"The ash particle's more than just the wood. It's synthetic

materials found in people's homes," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the

county's public heath officer. "The best measure is to protect

yourself from the exposure."

Some of those materials may contain chemicals linked to cancer.

The quantity and length of exposure would determine the threshold

of causing cancer, and while there is no definite evidence that

the ash will cause any add...