Residents living near the Tijuana River Valley can now monitor local air quality through a new online dashboard.
The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District last week unveiled the tool, which shows hydrogen sulfide readings. Also known as sewer gas, hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas that smells of rotten eggs and is a byproduct of the high sewage in the river. Its health effects depend on how much of the gas someone breathes and for how long, ranging from headaches, nausea and loss of smell at lower concentrations to rapid unconsciousness and death at high concentrations.
The agency has included in the dashboard color-coded thresholds to help residents respond to high sewer gas readings, including guidance on when to possibly limit outdoor activities.
As inewsource previously reported, hydrogen sulfide readings in the South Bay have exceeded state limits more than a dozen times this year. Residents can access the dashboard here.