SALTON SEA AND AIR QUALITY IN COACHELLA VALLEY

Air quality around the Salton Sea, the largest lake in California and located near Coachella valley is impacted by emissions from its drying lakebed, toxic dump fires, the surrounding windy arid lands, and increased industrial development in the area. Shrinking of the Salton Sea and its receding shoreline exposes its drying lakebed which is highly concentrated in toxic metals, microbial toxins, and pesticides. This produces pungent and reactive gases that are emitted to the atmosphere thereby contributing to noxious odors and formation of fine particulate matter in the air.

Research has suggested that these dust particles measured as Particulate Matter (2.5 microns or less) are tiny enough to be directly absorbed into the bloodstream. Prevalence of respiratory illness such as asthma in Eastern Coachella Valley are the consequences of the environmental hazards in and around the Salton Sea which amplify the particularly vulnerable population to the detrimental effects of low air quality. (https://www.saltonseataskforce.ucr.edu/chapters)

Recently, the piles of dried mud left behind by Tropical Storm Hilary is also a major factor in Coachella Valley's consistently poor air quality. On windy days, this mud becomes airborne that worsens the health conditions and has caused a significant increase in number of air quality alerts from South Coast Air Quality Management District.

We at YI4CE firmly believe that clean air is of fundamental importance for everyone’s health. Yet, studies show environmental justice communities are disproportionately impacted by air pollution. They may be more vulnerable to air pollution because of proximity to air pollution sources and are more susceptible because of social and economic factors.

We want to contribute to better understanding of the relationship between poor air quality and health disparities and help reduce its impacts on vulnerable population.