The smell of rotten eggs in the Salton Sea can get people sick

From Deborah BrennanCalmness

This story was originally published by CalmattersS Register about their ballots.

Residents around the sea in Salton have long been complaining of respiratory diseases of dust particles, which is carried by its coastline.

Now UCLA researchers have identified another air pollutant that could be suffering from people in communities near the inner lake: hydrogen sulfide.

It is a breakdown gas, organic matter that produces the smell of rotten eggs and is associated with eye irritation, headache, nausea and other symptoms. In a pair of reports published last week, the Latino Policy and Policy Institute and the UCLA policy describes how the flowering of algae produces gas in the water and how it walks in nearby neighborhoods.

“Communities that live ashore or within a mile from the exhibition of the edition exhibition,” says Consuelo A. Marquez, who is the author of the reports with Alejandra Lopez and Isabella B. Arzen-Soltero. “We hear stories:” My child is facing chronic nosebleeds and has had asthma throughout his life. “

Salton Sea crosses rivers and imperial cities and is the largest lake in California. According to many measures, this is the most unbearable. Almost twice as salty as the ocean, it is contaminated by agricultural outflows and flowering of toxic algae. Despite its pollution, the sea is a refuge for more than 400 bird species and a key stop on the quiet road, one of the main bird migration routes in North America.

California recently created a Salton Sea Conservancy To restore birds and water habitat. Community defenders say that there should be more focus on the effect of the lake on public health in neighboring communities.

“They need help to receive treatment, obtain medication or care related to possible cardiovascular and respiratory problems,” Marquez said. “It happens at such high prices that many of them just live with it. I think there should be more attention to it.”

UCLA studies are intended to emphasize these problems by measuring hydrogen sulfide emissions on the lake. A study focuses on How the chemical is produced in the water. The high concentrations of nitrates from the fertilizer flow and low oxygen levels in the water column create an environment that generates hydrogen gases.

The second looked Concentrations of hydrogen sulfide in the airS Researchers have installed two additional hydrogen monitors in the area and found that sulfide hydrogen emissions consistently exceed the state standard of the Air Resources Air Resources in California of 30 parts per billion. They recorded 243 hours above this threshold between May and September 2024 only.

At these levels – and even at less concentrations – the chemical can cause the lithain of health problems, according to US Administration for US Health and SafetyS These include nausea, eye irritation, headache, sleep loss, respiratory problems, fatigue, irritability, poor memory, dizziness and more.

“Because more data emphasize the connections between water and air quality, it is essential to monitor the air quality in all its aspects, not just those related to the dust,” the report said, pointing out that the region is home to predominantly Latin American, Indian and immigrant residents. “The sustainable question of the pollution of hydrogen sulfides serves as a clear example of environmental injustice.”

Salton Sea is not the only area with this problem. Emissions of hydrogen sulphide also wonders areas of San Diego County, affected by Pollution from the Tijuana RiverS In parts of San Diego San Diego, researchers at the UC San Diego Oceanography Institution, UC Riverside, San Diego State University and federal agencies detect hydrogen sulfide concentrations of about 4500 times, which is characteristic of an urban area, according to a report.

Márquez said UCLA researchers are calling for a “holistic approach to systems” to improve air quality around the Salton Sea. This may include the distribution of air purifiers and air quality monitors so that residents play an active role in improving conditions. They also need better access to medical treatment for possible cardiovascular and respiratory problems. First of all, residents want to make sure that their concerns have been heard and addressed, she said.

“The best people who can create solutions are people who are affected,” she said.

This article was Originally Published on CalMatters and was reissued under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Noderivatives License.