San Diego City Wire

Nearly 2,000 residents and visitors of the Tijuana River Valley and South San Diego County beaches have participated in a federal survey assessing the impact of pollution on their lives. The Assessment of Chemical Exposures (ACE) survey aims to gather information on how pollution has affected individuals' health and daily activities.

The county set a goal to collect responses from at least 2,000 people through the ACE survey. The survey will remain open until November 22 to encourage more participation, especially from those who have not yet contributed.

The county is particularly interested in understanding any exposures that children may have encountered while living or playing in the South Bay area. Dr. Ankita Kadakia, County Interim Public Health Officer, stated: “We are delighted to reach nearly 2,000 surveys already, but we know there are so many more people impacted by the sewage crisis in the area and every one of their voices is really important.” She emphasized the importance of collecting data directly from affected individuals as part of addressing the crisis with partners.

The ACE survey targets those who live, work, or visit areas most affected by sewage pollution. It includes questions about physical and mental health effects, healthcare usage, medical history, and pet health. The online survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. Parents or guardians should fill out separate surveys for themselves and each child under 18 years old. Assistance is available via phone for older adults or others who need help completing it.

Launched on October 21 in collaboration with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry—a federal public health agency within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—the county has been promoting the ACE survey through community events, social media channels, newsletters, schools, businesses, health centers, and community organizations.

This effort follows an earlier CDC Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) conducted around Imperial Beach and Nestor communities on October 17.