The unfettered flow of wastewater from the Tijuana River has not only been threatening Southern California’s beaches, but it has also unleashed alarming amounts of toxic gas in area communities, a new study has found.
The cross-border waterway, which originates in Mexico’s Baja California, has been emitting hydrogen sulfide — known as “sewer gas” due to its rotten egg smell — at peak concentrations 4,500 times greater than typical urban levels, according to the study, published Thursday in Science.
“The community was experiencing major respiratory issues, major health issues, couldn’t sleep,” senior author Kimberly Prather told reporters on a Wednesday press call…