SDSU School of Public Health Secures Funding to Study Tijuana River Pollution

The Prebys Foundation has awarded a grant to San Diego State University’s School of Public Health for research into the pollution and sewage crisis in the Tijuana River Valley.

South Bay residents and researchers are concerned about the risks to the economy and health of local communities amid exposure to pathogens like COVID-19, norovirus, antibiotic-resistant microbes and harmful chemicals.

Despite widespread concern about ongoing beach closures and potential health hazards to vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant women and front-line workers, comprehensive data on the transfer of contaminants from water to air, as well as the impacts of exposure remains limited.

The grant will support researchers at SDSU’s main campus and in Imperial Valley to address critical gaps in understanding and monitoring contaminants and their impacts on community health in Imperial Beach, San Ysidro and other South Bay communities.

Building upon previous research, the School of Public Health has conducted a comprehensive review of studies revealing evidence of elevated levels of antibiotic-resistant genes and hazardous chemicals near wastewater discharge points into the Tijuana River. This research highlighted the urgent need for broader environmental monitoring to safeguard public health effectively.

With an initial grant of $260,000 from the Prebys Foundation, the School of Public Health will now launch a community-wide health survey and environmental sampling program focused on sewage runoff at the U.S.-Mexico border.

This initiative aims to understand the transfer of microbial and chemical pollutants from the Tijuana River water into the surrounding air of San Ysidro, and develop a community survey tool to assess the health and well-being impacts of pollution on local residents.

To date, Prebys has committed $872,000 in funding to support community-based advocacy and research to find solutions to the Tijuana sewage crisis, as part of its broader effort to enhance community well-being across the region.

“This grant is pivotal in advancing our understanding of how pollutants travel from water to air in the Tijuana River region,” said associate professor Paula Stigler Granados. ”With the support of the Prebys Foundation, we can provide crucial data necessary to help drive regulatory action and secure funding for essential upgrades to sewage treatment facilities.”

As part of the project, faculty and graduate students will leverage SDSU’s expertise in environmental health and community-based participatory research. The findings will serve as a critical resource for advocacy groups and policymakers.

“The Prebys Foundation is committed to backing SDSU’s School of Public Health as they tackle this pressing public health crisis,” said Grant Oliphant, CEO of the foundation. “This partnership underscores our dedication to advancing research that helps to protect and enhance the health and wellbeing of our communities.”