The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be in town this week to talk to randomly selected Tijuana River Valley residents for a survey about the cross-border sewage flow crisis.
The CDC will be partnering with San Diego County officials in order to conduct a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response, also called CASPER, in order to discuss community concerns and decide where to best allocate resources.
The assessment includes interviews to determine if the sewage has affected the overall health of anyone in a given household, or had a negative effect on their property, ability to work, income, and family life.
The assessment comes after months of complaints by South Bay residents of myriad health issues from tainted water and air, including gastrointestinal problems, respiratory illnesses, and eyes, nose, and throat irritation — as well as an overpowering smell of rotten eggs, which is associated with hydrogen sulfide.
Hydrogen sulfide is also sometimes called “sewer gas” or “sour damp.” It is a highly toxic byproduct of both sewage and oil and gas refining. It ends to collect in low-lying and enclosed spaces, such as manholes, sewers, and underground telephone vaults.
According to a county website, hydrogen sulfide exposure can cause:
- Irritation to the eyes, nose, or throat;
- Headaches;
- Poor memory;
- Tiredness;
- Balance problems; and
- Difficulty breathing.
“These symptoms should be short-term and typically resolve when the odor goes away or when the person is in an area where the odors are not present,” said the site, noting that symptoms can be worse in people with pre-existing lung or heart conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or heart disease.
“If symptoms are persistent, worrisome, or worsening, people should seek medical attention and take steps to reduce exposure to the odors.”
The CASPER survey will speak to 210 households in the Tijuana River Valley region from Thursday through Sunday.
More information about the regional pollution and health concerns can be found here.
