Salton Sea children's health should be considered in water and mining policy

A cohort study reports that windblown dust from the shrinking Salton Sea is associated with reduced lung growth in nearby children; changes in water agreements and planned development may increase dust exposure.

The Salton Sea has been shrinking for decades as inflows have fallen, exposing large areas of lakebed. Wind moving across those exposed areas has been reported to carry dust into nearby communities. Researchers from USC and UC Irvine followed a cohort of more than 700 children and report that blowing dust is associated with impaired lung growth, especially for those living closest to the Sea. Local, predominantly low-income Latino communities report higher rates of asthma and respiratory symptoms. Key points: - The Salton Sea is California's largest inland lake and has lost water in recent decades, exposing roughly 36,000 acres of lakebed. - A cohort study of over 700 children in northern Imperial Valley found that windblown dust near the Salton Sea is linked to reduced lung growth and increased respiratory symptoms. - Reduced agricultural runoff after a 2003 water agreement (fully effective in 2018) and proposed industrial activity such as lithium extraction are reported as factors that may increase future dust exposure. Summary: The findings point to potential long-term respiratory risks for children who grew up near the Salton Sea. Undetermined at this time.