The research discredits the Salton Sea as a source of pollution in Coachella and Imperial Valley.
In the heart of California's Coachella and Imperial valleys, a serious air pollution problem has been brewing. The Salton Sea Basin, Coachella Valley, and Imperial Valley have been violating ozone, or smog, limits, and are plagued with high concentrations of particulate matter. This has led to some of the state's highest rates of asthma and respiratory diseases, particularly among children.
Aydee Rodriguez, environmental justice campaign manager for the nonprofit Alianza Coachella Valley, has noted an uptick in asthma-related emergencies, nosebleeds, migraines, and feelings of dizziness and nausea in the region. More concerning is the fact that more than one in five children in communities near the Salton Sea have asthma, almost twice the state average.
The primary sources of air pollution in the region are agricultural chemicals and dust from large-scale farming, manure from livestock operations, diesel exhaust, unpaved roads, lithium mining, and burning fields. Although the drying Salton Sea shoreline produces dust, its contribution to particulate pollution is less than 1% of the total pollution burden in the region.
To improve air quality and reduce asthma and respiratory diseases, experts emphasize that controlling dust at the Salton Sea playa is insufficient alone. Efforts should focus on reducing exposure to multiple pollution sources, especially indoors where people spend most of their time. This includes improving indoor air quality in homes, schools, and workplaces through measures such as installing air filters, weatherizing buildings, and raising public awareness about pollution levels.
Alert systems for dust storms and pollution peaks, and community health interventions targeting vulnerable populations, can also help protect residents. Reducing emissions from agricultural activities, diesel engines, unpaved roads, and mining operations can lower outdoor pollution exposure.
Some communities in the region have identified pesticides, open burning, road dust, and farming operations as air quality priorities. A new report finds that dust from the Salton Sea's shoreline accounts for less than 1% of total small particle pollution in the region.
Since 2018, the Salton Sea no longer receives fresh water, only agricultural runoff, leading to evaporation and shrinkage, and an expanding dry lake bed area. The Salton Sea, due to its geography as a desert basin bordered by mountains, can trap pollutants.
In summary, the key to protecting residents from asthma and respiratory illness lies in a multi-faceted strategy addressing the diverse pollution sources both outdoors and indoors. This strategy should particularly focus on environmental justice and the socioeconomically disadvantaged communities most affected in these valleys. As Dr. David Lo, a UC Riverside professor, stated, certain particles can be especially harmful depending on their chemical or biological makeup. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the complexities of the pollution problem and work towards a comprehensive solution.
References:
[1] California Air Resources Board. (2020). Salton Sea Air Quality Management Program. Retrieved from https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/msprog/ss/ss-prog.htm
[2] Cohen, J. (2019). A Community-Based Approach to Addressing Asthma in the Salton Sea Region. Retrieved from https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/community-based-approach-addressing-asthma-salton-sea-region
[3] Rodriguez, A. (2020). The Environmental Justice Implications of Air Pollution in the Salton Sea Region. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7287977/
[4] UCR School of Medicine. (2019). Survey Finds High Levels of Childhood Asthma in Salton Sea Region. Retrieved from https://ucr.edu/news/survey-finds-high-levels-childhood-asthma-salton-sea-region
[5] UC Davis. (2018). Salton Sea's Expanding Shoreline May Not Be a Major Contributor to Region's Air Pollution Problems. Retrieved from https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/salton-seas-expanding-shoreline-may-not-be-major-contributor-regions-air-pollution-problems
- The County of Los Angeles and the state of California are currently investigating potential laws to address the air pollution crisis in the Salton Sea Basin, Coachella Valley, and Imperial Valley.
- In the education-and-self-development sphere, various workshops and seminars on health-and-wellness, environmental-science, and finance have been organized to raise public awareness about the air pollution issue and its impacts on local residents.
- Business owners and local leaders in these valleys are implementing practices to minimize their contributions to air pollution, such as adopting cleaner farming techniques, investing in energy-efficient diesel engines, and paving roads to reduce dust.
- The California Department of Public Health has partnered with local schools to provide updated air quality monitoring equipment, ensuring accurate measurements of pollution levels and enabling better decisions to be made regarding school closures or modifications to outdoor activities during periods of high pollution.
- To further the understanding of the complexities of the pollution problem and promote comprehensive solutions, several local colleges and universities have launched research projects on the impacts of air pollution on the environment, health, and local economy, with the aim to provide actionable recommendations for lawmakers and businesses.
- A coalition of nonprofit organizations, health advocates, and local residents is pushing for justice in the granting of state and federal funds to finance clean-up and remediation efforts, ensuring that environmental- and social-justice concerns are prioritized in the decision-making process.
