Young people in San Diego County are taking matters into their own hands. Instead of waiting for someone else to solve the problem, they’re tackling the issue head-on. Through documentaries, art exhibits, data collection with scientists, and letters to government officials, these teenagers are bringing attention to the urgent need for a quicker resolution to the Tijuana sewage crisis.
For 16-year-old Melina Jimenez Esparza, the connection between her father’s health issues in Tijuana and her own peers’ breathing problems in Imperial Beach is too clear. Every time she crosses the border into the U.S., she’s reminded of the polluted Tijuana River watershed that affects their community. Inspired by teacher Katrine Czajkowski, Jimenez Esparza joined a group of students and scientists researching the health effects of toxic pollution.
“I wanted to see how those particles in the air might be affecting my dad’s health,” Jimenez Esparza said. She’s not alone; several teenagers are contributing their work to help researchers understand the public health crisis and raise awareness among their communities.
The sewage problem is a complex issue, driven by years of underinvestment in treatment plants on both sides of the border. As Tijuana’s population grows rapidly, billions of gallons of partially treated wastewater and toxic chemicals contaminate South San Diego shorelines and the Tijuana River Valley. While major repairs are underway, many teenagers believe that the slow response has put communities at risk, particularly low-income youth.
“We’re going to take over whatever the past generation leaves us,” said 16-year-old David Lai from Del Mar, who’s working on a documentary about the issue. “We want to leave our generation with good nature, good economics – just a good standard of living.”
Here are some examples of what these teens are doing:
– The Youth Climate Advisors: A group of mostly Mar Vista High School students have spent six months working with researchers at UC San Diego’s Airborne Institute and Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health. They’ve collected nearly 100 unique air readings, taken over 50 photographs documenting pollution in their community, and are producing a documentary.
– Joshua Nungaray: He compared particulate matter counts during indoor volleyball practice and outdoor track and field practice at Mar Vista High School, finding higher airborne particle levels outdoors due to the proximity of the beach.
These teenagers are determined to make a difference. By working together with researchers, policymakers, and their communities, they’re demanding a quicker resolution to the Tijuana sewage crisis and a better future for themselves and their neighbors.
Some student-athletes and local teenagers are speaking out about the impact of sewage pollution on air quality, particularly during the summer months when they participate in long-distance running activities.
One athlete noted that the particles in the air definitely affect them, making it necessary to run outside and sometimes even changing their route to avoid areas near the beach due to the strong smell.
Rebecca Fielding-Miller, a public health social scientist at UCSD, emphasized the importance of listening to the concerns of teenagers who are directly affected by air quality issues. She stated that unless scientists actually talk to and listen to people experiencing the biggest effects, their research may not be comprehensive.
The researchers have begun incorporating some of the issues raised by students into their broader research, including exploring how air quality differs by zip code, mental health impacts, and potential health risks associated with limited ventilation in classrooms.
Navya Arora, a youth advisor from San Marcos, believes that if more people from different communities care about the issue, they can work together to solve it. Some teenagers across the county share this sentiment.
A group of high school students from Non-Toxic San Diego, a club advocating for environmental solutions in the region, have been producing a documentary on the sewage crisis and meeting with local government officials. They also use social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to raise awareness about the issue.
The teens met with Tom Csanadi and Marvel Harrison, shorefront homeowners in Imperial Beach, who launched a social media campaign called “IBEmpowered” allowing residents to share their experiences with sewage pollution.
Chapman noted that the government response to underserved neighborhoods seems slow compared to wealthier communities. He believes that if this issue occurred in areas like Rancho Santa Fe or La Jolla, it would have been addressed quickly.
Pollution has spread as far north as Coronado, sometimes closing its shorelines, and high levels of hydrogen sulfide have been recorded as far east as San Ysidro.
During their meeting with Csanadi and Harrison, Harrison invoked the concept of “ubuntu,” which roughly translates to “what happens to you happens to me.” The group discussed their efforts to raise awareness about the issue.
In South County, teens and young adults with the Clean Coast Collaborative hosted a beach cleanup in Imperial Beach on July 20. Coronado High School students also led a rally earlier this year advocating for more federal funds to fix broken treatment infrastructure.
School districts serving children living near areas affected by pollution are sounding the alarm about the impact on attendance and enrollment. South Bay Superintendent Jose Espinoza stated that schools don’t have the resources to collect data on the issue, but they believe it’s impacting their students.
The Sweetwater Union High, South Bay Union, and Chula Vista Elementary districts adopted proclamations declaring the crisis an emergency earlier this year. Thousands of students have written letters to Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Joe Biden urging expedited solutions.
Source: San Diego Tribune
