Survey Finds TJ Sewage Crisis Affecting Health & Happiness
- Susan Heavilin
- Jul 10
- 2 min read
The ACE Survey (Assessment of Chemical Exposures) has been tallied and over 2,000 respondents gave the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) an earful.
These living conditions are not characteristic of the United States, a country desired by many for its better quality of life. These conditions are indicative of a lower-income country.
The County News Center article reported the following:
Among respondents, 86 percent said they live in the area, 31 percent say they visit the area for recreational activities, 21 percent work there and 16 percent attend preschool or school.
67 percent said they do not believe the area is safe to visit, work or live in.
Among the top concerns was air quality (97 percent), beach water quality (96 percent), Tijuana River quality (94 percent) and drinking water (86 percent).
About 80 percent said they have made many or some lifestyle changes due to the sewage and taken steps to avoid the area.
When it came to drinking water, the majority, 70 percent, said they use bottled water, with only 21 percent drinking tap water.
64 percent reported at least one new or worsening physical health symptom they attributed to the sewage crisis in the past 30 days
People reported headaches, a runny nose, congestion and coughing as the most common symptoms related to the sewage crisis.
Regarding mental health, 65 percent said their symptoms are related to the sewage crisis with 28 percent reporting some anxiety or worry and 21 percent reporting s depression
More than 60 percent of parents answering for children said their child had missed preschool or school due to symptoms they believe are related to the sewage crisis.
34 percent of those working in the area missed work due to symptoms they attributed to the crisis
25 percent of all survey participants have pets with health symptoms like skin, ear or eye issues or respiratory, cardiac or digestive symptoms, they believe to be linked to the sewage crisis.
For more details, read Fernanda Lopez Halvorson's "Tijuana River Valley Sewage Community Results Complete".
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