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 impurity Photo courtesy of County News Center South Bay residents have serious concerns about air quality drinking water and their medical as they continue to live with the Tijuana River toxicity predicament according to survey results distributed Tuesday The Assessment of Chemical Exposures survey based on answers from people near the limit was conducted last November by the U S Centers for Disorder Control and Prevention s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disorder Registry Of those who filled out questionnaires stated 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 revealed they have made numerous or certain lifestyle changes due to the sewage and taken attempts to avoid the area A full of those surveyed disclosed 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 disclosed at least one new or worsening physical symptom they attributed to the sewage problem in the days before the survey headaches runny nose congestion and coughing were the the greater part common More than of parents answering for children reported 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 situation The pets have effects 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 disclosed they live in the area say they visit for recreational sessions work there and attend school The results of the ACE survey confirm those of another scrutiny the Society Assessment for Populace Medical Crisis Response completed last October The county also explained that the ACE survey expanded participation to individuals rather than households Concerns about physical and mental wellbeing and the safety of the region 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 revealed it will prioritize action in five areas after receiving the survey results Communication share medical and stock information in multiple formats including on social media and via area outreach workers Water educate the group about how household drinking water is tested and not sourced from the Tijuana River Mental wellness promote mental physical condition services and tools Healthcare providers update clinicians on surveillance programs 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 limit Ultimately crews from San Diego County determined there was no immediate robustness vulnerability but multiple residents concluded the predicament 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 emergency Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre on July won polling to the board bringing her activism regarding the perimeter to the county s decision-making process Another populace wellbeing assessment from the CDC s Agency for Toxic Substances and Complaint Registry will evaluate the river valley for hazardous substances vitality outcomes and neighborhood concerns It is expected to take about two years This new general strength assessment will look at environmental input from establishment agencies and researchers review air surface water sediment soil fish tissue and odor complaint information identify information gaps and uncertainties where there is not enough information to determine healthcare risks and make recommendations to agencies population members and others to prevent and minimize harmful exposures according to a county comment
