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09.20.24

What's In the Air?

Photo: This is CA

Recent heatwave amplifies public health concerns for families living near the polluted Tijuana River in South San Diego County and beyond. 

Background

The recent heatwave that blanketed southern California in early September sounded the alarm once again on the worsening public health and environmental justice emergency devastating the Tijuana River Valley and surrounding areas.    

Anyone who’s been in South San Diego County recently can attest to the foul, nauseating odors that permeate the air.  For those who live, work, and go to school there, these odors have continued to get worse and are becoming inescapable.  The odors are a result of millions of gallons of raw sewage and industrial chemicals flowing through the Tijuana River nearly every day.  Areas where the water is agitated create bubbles that burst and release contaminants into the air - a process known as aerosolization.  The recent heat dome in this area, created by a high-pressure system that trapped heat and dangerous gases close to the ground, prevented any breezes that could have helped disperse the gases, further exacerbating the issue.   

The air pollution was so concentrated during the heatwave that residents in Imperial Beach reported carbon monoxide detectors going off in their homes.  Research teams from UC San Diego Scripps Oceanographic Institute and SDSU School of Public Health that were measuring levels of pollution-related toxins in the air were temporarily pulled from the field over health concerns from dangerous air quality and local schools canceled outdoor activities. 

Since then, there has been a media frenzy and much conflicting information shared with the public about whether or not it is safe to breathe in neighborhoods near the Tijuana River.  Read on to learn more about the latest information and get clarity on what we know so far. 

What We Know

The Tijuana River pollution crisis is constantly evolving.  We learn more each day and we will keep you updated as much as we are able. 

Strong odors can indicate toxic gasses are present.  Scientific data collected by researchers at UC San Diego Scripps Oceanographic Institute and SDSU School of Public Health, shows high concentrations of dangerous gasses in the air during the heatwave while odor complaints and concerns in the community over related illnesses were also on the rise.  

Some of what people are smelling is Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S).  Exposure to H2S can cause a range of health effects: irritation of eyes, nose, and throat; headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, coughing and difficulty in breathing.

Respiratory and nervous systems can be affected with symptoms like impaired memory, balance issues and poor coordination, psychological disorders and distress can occur at even low exposures, and concerns for neurological development in children who are especially at risk, as are the elderly, pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses, and those who are immunocompromised.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), children exposed to the same levels of hydrogen sulfide as adults may be at higher risk because they have greater lung surface area:body weight ratios and increased minute volumes:weight ratios, meaning that they may ingest larger doses of the toxic gas.  Additionally, because H2S is heavier than air, it tends to cling and travel lower to the ground, leading to more exposure for children than adults in the same location because of their shorter stature.  Children may also be more vulnerable to dangerous gases than adults because of the relatively smaller diameter of their airways.  There are numerous schools in close proximity to the Tijuana River that serve thousands of children.  A recent letter from San Diego Pediatricians for Clean Air referenced many cases of new onset migraine headaches, gastrointestinal illnesses, asthma exacerbations, respiratory infections and conjunctivitis in children living around the Nestor area - a San Diego neighborhood in close proximity to the river.  

Humans inhale about 11,000 liters of air daily: over 5,000 times more than the 2 liters of water we typically drink.  While common perception previously was that people in Imperial Beach and the surrounding area were most likely to be exposed to cross-boundary pollution while at the beach or in the ocean, we now understand that the health risks extend beyond the coastal zone and simply breathing in polluted air further inland in the Tijuana River Valley can expose people to toxins that can cause gastrointestinal and respiratory issues.  From beach chairs to living room couches to school classrooms, people living in and near the Tijuana River Valley are affected by this chronic and severe pollution problem. 

One of the complicating factors in understanding what these H2S readings mean is that there are no existing air quality health standards for this gas in community settings.  That’s because H2S at low, moderate or high levels should never be found in a community.  While standards are set for workplaces where employees have specialized training and equipment, this situation is completely unprecedented.

It’s Not Just Dangerous Gases Permeating the Air 

Conflicting information and a lack of guidance from local authorities on what to do and how to move forward is further complicating this crisis.  

San Diego County has reported that there is not enough data to indicate any immediate risk to public health.  It’s important to understand that the absence of county data and absence of community health standards does not mean the public is safe.

Cries for help from frontline communities have been disregarded for far too long and now, residents are being told there is no health threat, despite the growing concerns of air quality related illnesses in neighborhoods in close proximity to the river.  With the majority of the families living in the impacted area identifying as Latinx and with the income in many neighborhoods falling near the poverty line, this is a serious environmental justice and environmental racism issue that has been neglected for too long. 

Other communities experiencing similar realities are often found near large sources of severe pollution such as oil and gas refineries, concentrated animal feeding operations, and landfills, and bear the brunt of health costs.  This is unacceptable.

What We’re Doing 

Surfrider’s Clean Border Water Now program is participating in the Tijuana River Pollution Task Force, initiated by Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre last spring.  The task force includes academic researchers, physicians, and advocates working on addressing this crisis.  

We’re attending and testifying at public meetings, and calling for more coordination and funding to provide immediate relief for impacted community members.  Last week, we raised our voice at the San Diego County Board of Supervisors meeting and the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District meeting to request immediate action.  

We’re getting as much information as we can in order to share it with our members and the public.  We really want to see the appropriate County and State agencies address this as proactively, transparently, collaboratively, and quickly as possible and we need your help to make this happen.

What You Can Do

  • Protect Yourself, Your Family, and Your Community by filtering indoor air:
    • Select appropriate air purifiers: HEPA or MERV-13 filters for smoke and bio particles and activated carbon with potassium permanganate for gasses/odors.
    • If you have one of the above-mentioned air purifiers, close windows and doors at night when fumes and gas concentrations are highest until 9 am.
    • If you don’t have one of these air purifiers, close windows at night and air out the house when odors subside (after 9am). 
  • Take Action:
    • Report odors/poor air quality to the San Diego Air Pollution Control District
    • Report health symptoms
      • Report any health symptoms you are experiencing to your physician, health clinician or health center, identifying the risk area you live in and the odor concerns. Strongly urge them to report your symptoms to the SD County Health Department at phone number (619) 515-6555. The SD County Health Department needs this information to take action for these unprecedented times. 
    • Reach out to your public officials with your concerns, your lived experience, and a request for an emergency declaration at the state and federal levels – use your voice, encourage your neighbors to do the same, and if you haven’t already, please sign our petition.
      • Office of the Governor of California: Maurice Lyles, Southern California Regional Director, Office of the Governor, maurice.lyles@gov.ca.gov, (916) 799-9480
      • If you live within City of San Diego boundaries, please contact:
        • Office of the Mayor of San Diego: Dion Akers, Regional Government Affairs Manager, DAkers@sandiego.gov, (619) 236-6330
        • City of San Diego: District 8 Councilmember Vivian Moreno, vivianmoreno@sandiego.gov, (619) 236-6688
      • If you live in the affected area, and wish to contact your County Board of Supervisors representative, please contact:
        • County Board of Supervisors: District 1 Supervisor Nora Vargas, Nora.Vargas@sdcounty.ca.gov, (619) 531-5511
      • Other relevant agencies:
        • Regional Water Quality Control Board: David Gibson, Executive Officer, San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, David.Gibson@waterboards.ca.gov, (619) 521- 3005
        • U.S. Congressman Juan Vargas: Janine Bryant, District Chief of Staff, U.S. House of Representatives, Janine.bryant@mail.house.gov, (619) 422-5963
        • U.S. Senator Alex Padilla: Angel Marquez, Field Representative, United States Senate, Angel_Marquez@padilla.senate.gov, (619) 239-3884
        • Federal IBWC: Dr. Maria-Elena Giner, IBWC Commissioner, mariaelena.giner@ibwc.gov
        • Federal EPA: Martha Guzman, Regional Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9, Guzman.Martha@epa.gov 
Show Up: 
    • Surfrider is helping to host and promote several upcoming, relevant events.  Attend these to learn more, get involved, raise your voice, and build community around this issue.

Why Surfrider is Involved in Air Quality 

The connection between the Surfrider Foundation, whose mission is to protect our ocean, waves and beaches, and fighting for clean air for people to breathe might not be obvious.  We have been engaged in the transboundary pollution issue at the U.S./Mexico border for decades, fighting to raise awareness of the pollution problems caused by untreated sewage, stormwater, trash, and industrial pollution on local beaches and throughout the Tijuana River Valley.  Our main aim has been to bring all the responsible agencies at all levels of government to the table to find, fund, and implement solutions.  New information and data now tells us that the harmful pollution is not only in the water but it is affecting the very air that the frontline communities are breathing.  It’s impacting every aspect of community life for border-area residents and it’s one of the most significant public health and environmental justice emergencies in the United States.  

It will take all of us to build the social movement required to heal our river, our coast, and our communities.  Join us.