Sewage Pollution Sickens School Children in Imperial Beach
Last week, a pungent, rotten-egg smell permeated the air around the Tijuana Estuary in Imperial Beach, California, as hydrogen sulfide bubbled up from the polluted Tijuana River. This pollution is impacting the health of local school children, causing respiratory problems, rashes, and other ailments.
Health Concerns for Students and Families
Virginia Castellanos, the school nurse for Bayside STEAM Academy, expressed concern about students experiencing headaches, upset stomachs, and breathing problems due to the odor. Her own seven-year-old daughter recently became sick with asthma, exacerbated by the pollution. “I’ve been having headaches and nausea this whole week,” Castellanos said. “The smell has been so bad.”
On March 19, 2026, air pollution monitoring data showed hydrogen sulfide levels at 500 parts per billion, exceeding the California state standard of 30 parts per billion. High temperatures and a broken pump in a Tijuana sewage facility contributed to the elevated levels.
Residents of Imperial Beach report experiencing asthma, migraines, rashes, nausea, eye irritation, dizziness, and brain fog when the smell of hydrogen sulfide is present. Dr. Kimberly Dickson, a physician at South Bay Urgent Care, notes that patients frequently attribute their symptoms to the poor air quality. “They reach in and say ‘The air smells terrible, I need to use my inhaler more. The air smells terrible, I have headaches.’”
Impact on Learning and Activities
The pollution restricts outdoor activities, forcing children to stay indoors during school and at home. Bethany Case, an Imperial Beach resident and Surfrider volunteer, described the situation as living in a “toxic” beach community where residents cannot fully enjoy the coastal environment. “We’re living in this beach community and we’re not living a beach life.”
Parents are taking measures to protect their children, such as stocking inhalers, using air purifiers, and limiting outdoor exposure. However, they worry about the long-term health consequences of continuous exposure.
A Rash After a Field Trip
Nine-year-old Alan Gonzalez developed a rash after a class visit to the Tijuana Estuary. His mother, Farron Espinoza, reported that he became itchy and irritated the day after the field trip. “The next day he was really upset and irritated,” she said. “So when I checked him he had a rash all over.” A doctor diagnosed him with an allergic reaction and prescribed medication. Espinoza suspects the rash was caused by exposure to airborne bacteria from the polluted estuary.
The experience has made Alan fearful of the natural environment near his school and home, and he no longer wants to participate in nature programs.
Long-Standing Pollution Issues
The Tijuana River has been subject to pollution challenges for decades, stemming from failures in wastewater systems on both sides of the border. Even as joint management efforts existed for years, problems escalated in the early 2000s and again around 2014 due to dilapidated wastewater plants.
In 2024, research confirmed that pollution from the Tijuana River could become airborne, validating residents’ concerns about health impacts.
School District Response
The South Bay Union School District monitors pollution levels using data from the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District. The district has received over $500,000 from the air district to purchase 199 air purifiers and a five-year supply of replacement filters. When hydrogen sulfide levels exceed state standards, schools implement a “rainy day schedule,” keeping students indoors and running air purifiers.
While the district tracks student absences, it does not specifically categorize absences as being related to the Tijuana River pollution.
Despite mitigation efforts, parents and health professionals worry about the impact of pollution on students’ learning and overall health.