Local officials are taking new steps to address ongoing contamination concerns by commissioning a health study focused on communities near the Tijuana River Valley. The county is now looking for qualified researchers to investigate potential connections between pollution exposure and disease rates among area residents.
The research effort represents a broadening of the county's approach to a pollution problem that has persisted for years. Authorities hope the study will reveal whether people living close to the affected waterway have experienced higher incidences of health issues as a result of environmental contamination.
The county is currently accepting applications from researchers with the expertise needed to conduct the investigation. The study aims to examine historical exposure levels and determine if there is a measurable link to illness patterns in neighborhoods adjacent to the river valley.