The Tijuana River and Estuary flows north from Mexico into the US and is contaminated with sewage, industrial chemicals and urban runoff. The purpose of this study is to understand pollution within homes located in the border communities and to find ways to lower children’s health risks. Our study focuses on identifying chemical and biological markers, especially antibiotic-resistant microbes, associated with Tijuana River and Estuary pollution and reducing community exposure to these complex pollutant mixtures.
Our Healthy Air study has the following aims:
Determine whether water pollution from the Tijuana River and Estuary is contributing to air pollution in nearby US communities (San Ysidro, Imperial Beach, and Nestor, CA).
Measure how much of this Tijuana River and Estuary pollution is getting into the homes of community members and exposing children in the home,
Find ways of lowering family exposure risks in the home through interventions, in partnership with community members
Contact Dr. Jenny Quintana at 619-594-1688 or
HOME VISIT – email the Healthy Air study at SDSUHealthyAir@gmail.com or call 858-292-1416 (English or Spanish), or contact Casa Familiar at (619) 428-1115 and ask for Mayra Hernandez.
We will find out what harmful microbes and chemicals from the Tijuana River are getting into the air. This will help reduce uncertainty and give families in border communities clear answers about possible health risks.
We will develop better tools to detect complex pollutants in water and air—both microbes and chemicals—that are often missed by routine testing.
By examining indoor samples from homes and studying children's microbiomes, we will determine whether pollution from the river is making its way inside and how it might affect families.
Our study will provide clear,
science and community-based
recommendations to help
households and local leaders
take steps to protect health.
Our study will develop methods and data that can be used in other regions facing similar challenges, helping other communities
Professor, School of Public Health
Professor, School of Public Health
