San Diego State University report calls Tijuana River pollution a 'public health crisis'

A new report from San Diego State University researchers says the Tijuana River is endangering the health of a wide range of people, citing “untreated sewage, industrial waste, and urban runoff due to inadequate infrastructure and urbanization.” It calls it a “public health crisis.” A variety of people live, live, and work near contaminated waterways, especially when flooding increases due to rainy weather.

In a white paper that is not itself a peer-reviewed study, the authors synthesize multiple studies documenting years of contamination and stop with a recent paper documenting that the threat extends to marine mammals as well. The white paper states that the bottlenose dolphin stranded in San Diego died from infection with Erysiperosrix rhusiopathiae, a bacterium “commonly transmitted by contact with feces or urine in contaminated water, food, or soil.” ing.

In addition to drug-resistant pathogens in river water, graduate students analyzed border river water last year and detected the presence of 392 organic chemical contaminants, 175 of which are under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Toxic Substances Regulations. It was stated in the law.

Researchers have found that polluted air from the area can “increase health risks for people in the community even without direct contact with the water,” and this statement suggests that contaminated water may It mentions the possibility of it becoming aerosolized in droplets, a possibility documented by Kim, a biochemist at the University of California, San Diego. More in 2023.

Researchers include investments by “Congress, federal and state agencies” to strengthen monitoring of environmental pollutants, slow and prevent “ongoing and severe pollution,” and conduct regional assessments. It calls for deeper research into “exposure and health effects in nearby communities.” Harm to the environment.