Scientists have linked a lithium battery plant fire in California earlier this month to a surge in heavy metals found in nearby soil.

Elevated concentrations of heavy metals have been detected at the Elkhorn Slough Reserve by scientists following a recent fire at Vistra Moss Landing Power Plant and Energy Storage Facility.

When a massive fire erupted at one of the world's largest lithium-ion battery storage facilities in Monterey County, it didn't just send a toxic plume of smoke over nearby communities — it cast a shadow of doubt over the future of California's clean energy industry.

One of the biggest clean-up challenges from the Southern California fires is lithium-ion batteries, which can explode after damage or exposure to heat.