Majority of local residents see Tijuana River sewage as threat to air, water, health
Workers touching base with South Bay residents as part of federal outreach regarding Tijuana River Valley toxicity Photo courtesy of County News Center South Bay residents have serious concerns about air quality drinking water and their wellness as they continue to live with the Tijuana River corruption situation according to survey results issued Tuesday The Assessment of Chemical Exposures survey based on answers from people near the edge was conducted last November by the U S Centers for Disorder Control and Prevention s Agency for Toxic Substances and Condition Registry Of those who filled out questionnaires mentioned they were concerned about air quality and about beach water quality Another cited concerns over Tijuana River quality and over the cleanliness of drinking water A total of reported they have made several or selected lifestyle changes due to the sewage and taken initiatives to avoid the area A full of those surveyed declared they do not believe the area is safe to visit work or live Other findings include of the respondents use bottled water for drinking water and only drink tap water informed at least one new or worsening physical symptom they attributed to the sewage situation in the days before the survey headaches runny nose congestion and coughing were the preponderance common More than of parents answering for children announced their child had missed classes due to indicators they believe are related to the sewage problem of participants believe their pets ailments to be linked to the sewage emergency The pets have manifestations like skin ear or eye issues or respiratory cardiac or digestive problems The areas in this survey were expanded from Imperial Beach Nestor and San Ysidro to include Otay Mesa West the Silver Strand and Coronado Just shy of half the respondents were Hispanic Latino and white noted they live in the area say they visit for recreational exercises work there and attend school The results of the ACE survey confirm those of another assessment the Public Assessment for Residents Medical Emergency Response completed last October The county also explained that the ACE survey expanded participation to individuals rather than households Concerns about physical and mental wellness and the safety of the locality and of tap water for drinking were common to both surveys The survey area for the CDC s Assessment of Chemical Exposures Photo courtesy of San Diego County The county disclosed it will prioritize action in five areas after receiving the survey results Communication share robustness and reservoir information in multiple formats including on social media and via society outreach workers Water educate the region about how household drinking water is tested and not sourced from the Tijuana River Mental soundness promote mental strength services and information Healthcare providers update clinicians on surveillance exercises and ongoing projects Pets engage with vets hospitals and area animal organizations In September teams from local universities measured high levels of noxious gases such as hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen cyanide in the Tijuana River Valley Residents were exposed to the rotten egg smell even miles from the boundary Ultimately crews from San Diego County determined there was no immediate medical danger but countless residents considered the dilemma had reached a turning point In the past year researchers discovered that toxins and bacteria from the Tijuana River can be aerosolized and become airborne unveiling an apparent threat not only to our water ecosystems but the air in our communities members of San Diego County s congressional delegation wrote in a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency Last month the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted - to advance a proposed action plan in response to the ongoing Tijuana River sewage dilemma Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre on July won voting process to the board bringing her activism regarding the confines to the county s decision-making process Another population strength assessment from the CDC s Agency for Toxic Substances and Complaint Registry will evaluate the river valley for hazardous substances wellbeing outcomes and neighborhood concerns It is expected to take about two years This new inhabitants fitness assessment will look at environmental material from leadership agencies and researchers review air surface water sediment soil fish tissue and odor complaint material identify information gaps and uncertainties where there is not enough statistics to determine robustness risks and make recommendations to agencies neighborhood members and others to prevent and minimize harmful exposures according to a county declaration
