Over two-thirds of South Bay people who responded to a federal survey about their experience with the Tijuana River Valley and polluted beaches in San Diego said they do not believe those sites are safe to work in, live in or visit.
On July 8, San Diego County announced results from an Assessment of Chemical Exposure (ACE) online survey which collected responses from 2,099 people in the polluted areas of Imperial Beach, Nestor, San Ysidro, Otay Mesa West, Silver Strand and Coronado.
Earlier this year, the county rolled out results from a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response, or CASPER, conducted with assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last fall. First, agencies surveyed 189 households in Imperial Beach and Nestor in mid-October.
That survey found that 72% of households reported a foul odor indoors, outdoors and in their neighborhoods during the prior month and more than 69% said the smell was strongest after dark.
This urged further study of residents’ concerns.
The second survey was conducted from Oct. 21 through Nov. 22.
According to the County Communications Office, both are key to identifying community health concerns and prioritizing solutions related to pollution caused by overwhelmed wastewater treatment plants and inadequate sewage infrastructure in Tijuana.
“The information from the survey is important to informing what needs to be done to address the sewage crisis,” said Dr. Ankita Kadakia, who served as interim public health officer, in a statement following the ACE survey on Nov. 25. “It’s clear that not only physical health but also mental health has been impacted by these ongoing sewage issues.”
ACE results
The ACE survey targeted residents and visitors who worked or had spent time in the area in the previous four weeks.
Both surveys identified major public concerns with air and drinking water quality, as well as physical and mental health symptoms attributed to the sewage crisis.
In the ACE survey, 86% of the respondents reside in the area affected by Tijuana’s sewage pollution. And 21% work in the area.
The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District (SDAPCD) provides monitoring updates about hydrogen sulfide odors, or the “rotten egg” smell produced by wastewater and sewage flows near the Tijuana River Valley.
The district informed communities that hydrogen sulfide levels at Berry Elementary School, in the South Bay, exceeded the state’s threshold of 30 parts per billion from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. on July 9.
More than half of respondents, 63%, said their child had missed school or daycare in the past 30 days from when they took the survey due to symptoms they believe were related to the sewage crisis.
Over three quarters, 78%, of people said they usually or always notice the sewage smell in the affected area.
Air quality was a top concern with 97% distrust, followed by 96% for beach water quality, 94% for Tijuana River quality and 86% for drinking water quality.
A total of 79% of people said they have taken extra steps to avoid the affected area due to the sewage crisis.
More than 90% of people agreed that they don’t “believe the sewage cleanup in the affected area is sufficient.”
Regarding physical health symptoms in the last month, more than 60% reported at least one new or worsening symptom due to the sewage crisis.
Headaches led a total of 11 symptoms, with 53% of people who shared that condition, followed by other respiratory symptoms, and 33% of people reporting dizziness, dry or itchy skin.
Of the 31% of people who sought medical care for these symptoms, 72% said they visited a primary care doctor and more than 30% went to a hospital, emergency room or urgent care.
Water was a top “unmet need” resulting from the crisis for 48% of people.
More than half of respondents, 70%, said they drink bottled water while in the area.
Lastly, 24% of people believed a pet’s health symptoms in the last month was caused by the sewage crisis.
Upcoming assessment
Following ACE results, the county identified priority actions it aims to address with collaborating partners.
Actions include: sharing health and resource information via social media and community outreach workers; educating the community that household drinking water is tested and not sourced from the Tijuana River; promoting mental health services and resources; updating healthcare providers on surveillance activities and ongoing projects; and engaging with veterinarians, pet hospitals and area animal organizations.
Within the next two years, the county said it anticipates another public health assessment from the federal agencies to evaluate the Tijuana River Valley for hazardous substances, health outcomes and community concerns.
The county also encourages anyone feeling emotionally affected by the Tijuana River Valley sewage crisis to connect with mental health resources, the San Diego Access and Crisis Line (ACL) available online or by calling 1-888-724-7240 or 988.
More information about the ACE and CASPER studies is available on the county’s website.
