Environment/Climate Change
Health Impacts of Tijuana River Pollution: Preliminary Results from A Community-Based Survey on Environmental and Public Health Challenges Yu Ni* Yu Ni Penelope Quintana Eyal Oren Eunha Ho Nicolas Lopez-Galvez Miguel Angel Zavala Perez Linda Lara-Jacobo Kai-Chung Cheng Jade Johnson Yaritza Benitez Elora Shakoor Laura Magaña Shannon McBride Lauren Bonneval Paula Stigler Granados
Background: Raw sewage and industrial pollution from Tijuana, Mexico flow north via the Tijuana River into the estuary in southern San Diego County, CA, creating a longstanding transboundary pollution crisis. The situation has significantly worsened in 2024, with residents reporting unbearable odors and major health concerns.
Methods: A bilingual (Spanish/English) rapid response survey was launched online to evaluate the pollution’s impact on community wellbeing. Individuals living and working near the estuary were recruited through outreach to community organizations, flyer distribution in targeted locations, and social media. The survey captured environmental perceptions and health symptoms across several domains. We fitted Poisson regressions to estimate the pollution-health symptom associations, controlling for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors.
Results: Since Oct 2024, 304 participants (40% Hispanic) have completed the survey. Three-quarters reported upper respiratory symptoms in the past two weeks, and 47% experienced diarrhea. Other common symptoms included allergic reactions (69%), headaches (77%), and trouble sleeping (64%). Most participants (78%) rated air quality as unhealthy, very unhealthy, or hazardous, and 23% reported severe odors daily. Compared to those perceiving neighborhood air quality as good or moderate, participants who rated it as unhealthy, very unhealthy, or hazardous were more likely to report various health issues – prevalence ratios (PR) of 1.2-1.5 for upper respiratory symptoms, 1.5-1.8 for allergic reactions, 2.6-3.0 for diarrhea, and 3.4-3.9 for trouble sleeping. Strong odors were associated with headaches (PR: 1.4–1.6) and loss of appetite (PR: 2.4–4.7).
Conclusion: The survey results underscore the severity of the sewage crisis. Follow-up surveys aiming to track changes over time are underway. Immediate action is needed to reduce sewage flows and improve living environment for affected environmental justice communities.