KQED's Forum Tijuana River Pollution Reaches Crisis Point in San Diego County, Scientists Warn
Jun 10, 2025
Paloma Aguirre, Mayor of Imperial Beach, highlights the urgent need for solutions to the ongoing pollution crisis affecting her community. Soumya Karlamangla, a national correspondent for The New York Times, discusses the daily flow of untreated sewage into the Tijuana River and its severe health impacts. Paula Stigler Granados, an associate professor at San Diego State University, emphasizes the dire connection between pollution and health risks. Together, they explore the need for collaborative action, community engagement, and federal investment to tackle this environmental disaster.
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Mayor Aguirre's Health Anecdotes
- Imperial Beach's mayor, Paloma Aguirre, shares personal and community health impacts from the river pollution.
- She recounts hospitalizations, chest pains, and children wearing masks due to toxic gases.
Tijuana River Pollution Characteristics
- The Tijuana River carries massive pollution including sewage and industrial waste into the U.S.
- Its unnatural bright green color and foam indicate severe contamination.
How Water Pollution Becomes Airborne
- Organic matter decay in chemical-rich wastewater creates toxic gases released by waterfall effects in the river.
- These gases settle near the ground, entering homes and causing respiratory distress.