Dust from the Salton Sea in California has been linked to an increase in respiratory issues in children living nearby, according to a new study.
Researchers found that while adults living near the area were also affected, young children displayed the most symptoms of respiratory issues. This included asthma, coughing, wheezing, and sleep disruptions.
Additionally, the study also found that 24% of children living near the lithium-rich sea had asthma. In comparison, only 5.5% of girls and 8.4% of boys have asthma, per national averages.
The findings were published in Environmental Research.
Methodology
Researchers examined the respiratory health symptoms of 722 school-age children and dust evens in the area near the Salton Sea over 12 months to determine how it affects the kids. Parents also completed a 64-question survey about their children's health.
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Additionally, the authors used data from regulatory air monitors to identify dust exposure events in the area. They found between 98 and 395 dust even hours annually.
The study noted that every 100 dust storm hours of exposure was attributed to a 9.5% rise in wheezing, a 6.7% increase in sleep disturbance, and a 4.6% surge in bronchitis among young children.
"The community has long suspected that air pollution near the sea may be impacting children's health. But this is the first scientific study to suggest that children living close to the receding shoreline may experience more severe direct health impacts," first author and environmental health associate professor at the University of Southern California Jill Johnston said in a statement.
What Is the Salton Sea?
The Salton Sea was accidentally created in 1905 when the Colorado River breached irrigation canals and flooded the Salton Basin for over a year. The lake was later continuously sustained by irrigation runoff from nearby farms.
However, there has been decreasing water flow in the past 20 years, caused largely by climate change and drought. Agricultural water conservation efforts are also leading to a reduce in runoff into the Salton Sea, causing the lake to lose about a third of its water. The shrinking water has exposed 16,000 acres of land containing toxic pollutants.
