RivCo Respiratory Illnesses Linked To Farm Runoff Near Salton Sea

COACHELLA VALLEY, CA — The Salton Sea Air Basin has become one of the most polluted areas in the nation, and new research indicates that agricultural runoff could be to blame for a worsening air pollution crisis.

For the communities living near California's largest landlocked lake, the pungent smell of rotten eggs rising from the receding body of water is nothing new. But that noxious smell is more than just a mere annoyance. Headaches, nasal burning and respiratory issues are symptoms commonly experienced by those living nearby.

The Salton Sea, some 60 miles from Palm Springs, has suffered from declining water flow in recent years amid the impacts of climate change. The exposed lakebed has made dust emissions in the surrounding environment worse, and the receding shoreline has reduced wildlife habitat. New research, however, suggests that runoff from the verdant, nutrient-rich farm fields and grassy areas all over the Coachella Valley has been triggering a surge in soil bacteria activity, leading to the release of pollution that contributes to smog formation.

According to research from UC Davis published Nov. 20, a quarter of all nitrogen oxides — a precursor to smog — are released by irrigated farm fields. Such runoff can include toxic pesticides and fertilizer.

"With over $2 billion in annual agricultural sales and low population density, air quality in [the Salton Sea Air Basin] is likely influenced by the year-round farming activity," researchers wrote.

Crops in the basin area must be watered regularly to withstand extreme heat and arid conditions that are common the Coachella Valley. However, high temperatures, combined with wet soil can lead to more harmful emissions, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Researchers say that the soil in the Salton Sea Air Basin releases 10 tons of nitrogen oxides per day. That is 10 times more pollution than California air regulators currently estimate, according to the study.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, low levels of nitrogen oxides in the air can not only irritate a person's eyes, nose and throat, they can also cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs, shortness of breath, fatigue and the swelling of tissues in the throat and upper respiratory tract.

Alternatively, high levels of nitrogen oxides can damage the respiratory airways.

Researchers also noted that 86% of the residents living in Imperial County, where the lake resides, are Latino and 21% live below the poverty line. Additional burdens listed by the study are high rates of asthma, housing insecurity, poor infrastructure, language barriers and impaired water quality.

"These factors put residents at risk of respiratory damage and diseases like asthma and COVID-19," researchers wrote.

What's more, Imperial County reported the highest infection and mortality rates per capita in California from COVID-19 throughout the height of the pandemic, according to the study.

Ian Faloona, UC Davis professor in the Department of Land, Air and Water, told the Times that the findings from the study highlight the need to gain a better understanding of how the irrigation of farmlands and manicured lawns around the Coachella Valley are contributing to air pollution.

“Because it’s relatively cheap, farmers will usually apply about twice as much fertilizer as needed by the crops, just to make sure they get it,” Faloona told the Times. “So, when you have a bunch of excess nitrogen, microbes go to town and they start using it for fuel. But some of it leaks out of their metabolism and it comes out as this air pollutant.”

A 2023 study, led by researchers at the University of California, Riverside, revealed that low-income immigrant and minority children are especially vulnerable the the Salton Sea's impact on chronic respiratory conditions.

Participants in that study described the Salton Sea as toxic, imposing sulfuric smells, dust storms, chemicals and fires which contribute to respiratory illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia.

As many as three of every 10 people report having asthma in Brawley, Calipatria and Westmorland — communities near the Salton Sea, according to a 2019 report from USC Today.

"We already have a vulnerable population here," Jill Johnston, an assistant professor of preventive medicine with the Keck School of Medicine of USC told the academic website. "What could be the effects of more pollution because of the shrinking sea? It’s a major concern, because there’s a lot of evidence that shows particulate matter is not good for you."

This year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new law that establishes the Salton Sea Conservancy, an initiative to quell a growing public health crisis spurred by the shrinking lake.

READ MORE: CA's New Salton Sea Conservancy To Address Health, Ecological Crisis