Salton Sea Pollution Slows Children’s Lung Growth

Children living near the Salton Sea in California’s Imperial Valley are experiencing impaired lung development due to the inhalation of toxic dust from the shrinking lake bed. Research published in JAMA Network Open indicates that children residing within 11 kilometers of the saline lake show slower lung function growth between the ages of 10 and 12 compared to those living further away.

The findings, produced by a team of epidemiologists from the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) and the University of California, Irvine, suggest that the respiratory impact on children in this rural region is comparable to the effects observed in urban California communities where children live within 500 meters of a busy freeway.

Environmental Drivers of Lung Impairment

The Salton Sea, which spans over 340 square miles and is the largest inland lake in California, was created in 1905 after the Colorado River broke through an irrigation canal. For decades, the lake was maintained by irrigation runoff from agricultural fields, but it has since been shrinking due to climate change, heat, drought, and agricultural water diversions.

Over the last 20 years, decreasing water flow has exposed 36,000 new acres of dry lake bed. Wind blowing across these exposed areas kicks up fine particles of toxic dust containing metals and agricultural chemicals that had accumulated in the lake over years of runoff.

This airborne pollution enters the lungs of children in the Imperial Valley. While previous local surveys have tracked asthma incidents and other respiratory problems, this study is the first to directly measure changes in lung capacity over time.

Study Methodology and Scope

The research was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health. The study tracked the impact of the pollution in 700 children, with researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC monitoring 369 of those children for an average of two years.

The researchers noted that the pollution found in the region is known to increase the risk of neurological, immune, heart, and lung problems. They expressed concern that the slower growth of lung function during childhood could have lasting health implications that extend into adulthood.

Future Risks and Global Implications

Experts warn that air pollution in the Imperial Valley is likely to worsen. This projection is based on diminishing water sources resulting from Colorado River water use agreements and an increase in industrial activity stemming from proposed lithium extraction in the region.

The findings regarding the Salton Sea may serve as a warning for other regions facing similar environmental crises. As rising temperatures and drought cause other large bodies of water to shrink, similar patterns of dust emission and respiratory impairment could emerge at sites such as the Aral Sea in Central Asia and the Great Salt Lake in Utah.

Our findings are concerning because they may have long-term health implications.

Keck School of Medicine of USC