A recent study published last month presents the most extensive survey of industrial chemicals in the Tijuana River Valley to date, and it features the unexpected involvement of high school students who may not have previously considered a career in science.
Collaborating with scientists from UC San Diego and the Boz Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing life science education, students from the San Diego region participated in a novel sampling method aimed at uncovering the environmental impacts on local wetlands.
Morgan Appel, an assistant dean at UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies, highlights the innovative approach that engages young people in cutting-edge research, emphasizing the tangible benefits to their community.
“What you see is this incredible ecosystem where kids are engaged in cutting-edge research that is tangible, but in a way that also helps them serve their community,” said Appel.
He noted that the integration of students of varying ages did not compromise the scientific integrity of the study. The findings, which indicate the presence of chemicals in the Tijuana River Valley sediment that date back decades, have opened up new avenues for research, especially concerning the long-term effects of pollution.
Currently, scientists are investigating how these chemicals move up the food chain and their potential impacts on the environment and public health over prolonged exposure, even at levels that may still comply with federal water quality standards.
Goran Bozinovic, CEO of the Boz Institute and a biology lecturer at UCSD, criticized the current regulatory framework that often relies on data that may not accurately reflect long-term exposure scenarios.
“Oftentimes, we make our regulatory decisions based on … data that is convincing, but it doesn’t really represent chronic, prolonged, long-term exposure type scenarios,” Bozinovic stated.
While existing studies have focused heavily on wastewater, which primarily consists of organic matter, this research aims to fill a critical knowledge gap regarding the impacts of industrial waste.
Employing advanced equipment, the team collected samples over several weeks from various locations instead of relying on isolated samples. This method enabled them to better understand the movement of chemicals through the estuary and to analyze a broader spectrum of substances.
Among the 169 chemicals identified were petroleum-based substances, plasticizers, pharmaceuticals, and even pesticides that have been banned for decades. Accumulation of these chemicals in the estuary sediment raises concerns, as many retain their integrity for prolonged periods.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention categorizes numerous chemicals found in this study as carcinogenic, with the long-term effects of low-level exposure remaining largely unknown.
To assess the impacts of these chemicals on living organisms, Bozinovic and his team will apply extracts to liver tissue in laboratory settings. This approach aims to study the long-term health effects and evaluate risks associated with exposure.
Their collaboration is supported in part by the California Coastal Commission and aims to contribute vital scientific knowledge while paving the way toward solutions for the ongoing pollution crisis.
Bozinovic emphasized the importance of understanding the interconnected nature of water systems, noting, “The first thing that students learn is that the water doesn’t really understand the flags and boundaries and borders.” He suggests that students must adopt a broader perspective in tackling these issues.
Approximately 60 students from 35 high schools and two community colleges took part in the research, including participants from Sweetwater High School in the South Bay.
Claire Wang, a junior at Del Norte High School in Poway, focused her research on the reaction of fish embryos to varying concentrations of polluted water, finding that it stunted growth and caused deformities.
Through her involvement in the project, Wang gained insight into the critical pollution crisis affecting the Tijuana River. She believes that raising awareness among her peers can foster motivation to enact change.
“Once you see how bad the problem is, I think they will be more inspired to help make a change,” she remarked.
image source from：https://inewsource.org/2025/05/24/uscd-tijuana-river-industrial-chemicals-research-students/
