SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be back in the Tijuana River Valley this week to continue looking into how extensive the contamination is and how badly it is affecting area residents.
For decades, the Valley has been plagued with millions of gallons of raw sewage on a daily basis flowing in from Mexico via the Tijuana River.
The currents also carry large amounts of toxic chemicals and other pollutants.
Scientists have determined bacteria and toxins are aerosolized when the polluted water cascades along the river or hits the surf in the Pacific Ocean.
Last year, CDC came to the Valley to study the effects of the pollution on residents and people who work in the area by performing what it calls an Assessment of Chemical Exposure (ACE).
According to its website, its findings showed:
- Among the 2,099 participants of the ACE, 47.8% self-identified as Hispanic/Latino, and 64.6% reported symptoms related to the sewage crisis. The most frequent were headache (53.1%), runny nose (46.5%), stuffy nose (45.5%), eye irritation (42.9%), and coughing (42.3%).
- Overall, 21.2% reported contact with beach water during closures, and 9.0% reported direct contact with TR water.
- Participants exposed to contaminated water were more likely to report at least one symptom and to seek medical care.
CDC goes on to say the findings matter because the ACE investigation identified widespread health concerns related to exposure to Tijuana River water and sewage gas, with half of respondents reporting symptoms like headaches and respiratory issues.
According to Border Report sources, CDC personnel will be back in the Valley this week to further study the effects of the pollution in the valley.
Scientists from the University of California at San Diego and San Diego State University, who have been studying the problem on their own for several years, will reportedly share their data with CDC to further recognize and diagnose the issue.
These findings will be presented to local, state and federal lawmakers to determine how to better protect residents and mitigate the pollution coming from south of the border.
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