Agencies working together to better air quality in the valley

The Imperial Valley has one of the worst air qualities in the golden state and many have already suffered health problems because of it.

There are many reasons why the Imperial Valley has one of the poorest air qualities in the state. One of them is the Salton Sea. For decades now, water levels at the sea have receded leaving exposed playa that’s blowing into the air.

Frank Ruiz, Salton Sea Program Director of Audubon California has been a resident of the Coachella Valley for over two decades. Like many who live near the Salton Sea, Ruiz remembers meeting children who developed life long health problems. “A family of five. Three kids. 12, 9 and 6. They all have to use inhalers. They have to go to bed hooked to these breathing machines. And when they go to school they carry this bronchial dilator an injection in case they have a crisis,” said Ruiz.

Matt Desert, of the Imperial County Air Pollution District, said dust particulates in poor air quality can deteriorate one’s health. They’re small to the naked eye but if inhaled they can be dangerous. Desert said, “They can trigger asthma episodes. Allergy episodes. Which then cause people to seek health needs. Often time emergency room visits.”

Years ago the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District developed an air quality flag program at schools to reduce more children from being exposed. “Based on what the color of flag, it tells the students or the educator at the schools what the air quality is,” said Desert.

The agency released an air monitoring app on phone devices a few years ago. Residents can use it to see if it’s safe to stay outdoors for a long period of time. “It can be a real tool to them. So they can carry it with them. We all carry our phones. They could look at it. See how things are outside,” Desert said.

According to the California Public Health Department, by 2016 over 15 percent of the population in Imperial County’s lifetime had been diagnosed with asthma by a health care provider.

Torrie Staten Estrada, El Centro Regional Medical Center’s Cardiopulmonary Services Director, is one of the many health experts who help patients cope with respiratory conditions. Estrada said, “They understand what the triggers are and they understand how to self manage it. That they can live healthy lifestyles even if the air quality is not the best. If they’re aware and limit their exposure that make their symptoms worse.”

According to the World Health Organization, Mexicali, a neighboring city just on the other side of the border is one of the leaders in the world when it comes to unhealthy air quality. Leading North America in particle pollution.

Sylvia Vanderspek, of the California Air Resources Board said, “Both sides of the border are breathing unhealthy air. You know what the levels are that are in Mexicali are significantly higher than what is in Calexico. And so making people aware of what the air quality it kind of helps establish a grassroots so that more can be done.”

Gas emissions from idle vehicles from the long border waits from Mexicali into the county has also factored into the poor air quality.

Desert said, “So if we can logically design the traffic system in Calexico better. Better lights and better intersections and get those traffic flows going better. Not only in Calexico but perhaps in Mexicali too. That’ll be less exposure for those humans that are waiting in line to cross that are getting through the city of Calexico.”

A task force that consisted of both Mexicali and Imperial County representatives was put together to better the air quality in both Mexicali and the Imperial Valley. Margarito Quintero Nunez, the Mexicali Co-Chair for Border 2020 Air Quality Task Force said one of the problems contributing to the bad air quality in Mexicali is unpaved roads. Nunez said, “We have huge amounts of land which are uncovered. They’re not organized at all. The wind blows and carries away the dust.”

Many U.S. residents participate in illegal burns. Something Air Pollution Control District Project Manager, Belen Leon-Lopez said is also becoming an issue. “So we’re trying to target all these people that again are here in the U.S. that go into Mexico and try to just set that mindset. No burning in Mexicali,” Leon-Lopez said.

Nunez highlighted the importance of both countries working together regardless of politics. “You know Mexicali and Imperial Valley are part of the same valley. Divided just by a political line. When we suffer in Mexicali in air pollution they suffer it as well. So the only way to attack a problem or to solve the problem of this pollution in this common atmosphere is by working together,” said Nunez.

A new assembly bill passed in the recent election giving much-needed funding for a 30 person committee known as the AB 617 committee, that will aim to improve the air quality in selected corridors which includes the city of Calexico, Heber and El Centro. The committee’s mission is to continue monitoring the air quality and gather data and Come up with future solutions to bring to the board of supervisors who can then take it to the state.

Jose Luis Olmedo, of Comite Civico Del Valle said, “This one has monies. So we’re able to figure out where to apply those monies. What type of priorities. Where we’re going to get the biggest bang for the buck. There’s a lot of talk about education. There’s a lot of talk about certain technologies. And even air filtration in schools. “

Olmedo said change is on the horizon. And the future looks bright as groups continue to work tirelessly to better the air quality in the valley.
“We’re in that sort of sweet spot. We’re making that transition. It’s not going to happen overnight. But change is happening, ” said Olmedo.