Other Studies

Healthy Borders

In October 2009, four focus group studies were conducted at Casa Familiar to gather community perceptions of the San Ysidro port of entry and experiences crossing. Of great concern to community residents were long border delays, lack of government assistance, physical stress, and health effects from vehicle fumes. In February 2010 a comprehensive exposure assessment including personal ambient air monitoring and biological markers (via urine sample collection) of 100 pedestrian border crossers was initiated by SDPRC Research Assistant, and University of Washington environmental health doctoral candidate, Vanessa Galaviz. Vanessa is objectively measure personal exposure to carbon monoxide and diesel particular matter, as well as ultrafine and fine particulate matter at the border crossing where pedestrians wait in line to cross.

In addition, standing monitors measuring wind direction and levels of pollution are being monitored in locations across the community of San Ysidro by MPH Environmental Health graduate student, Lynelle Garnica and Jill Dumbauld, with assistance from undergraduate Public Health students Jose Velascosoltero and Cuong Tran. Preliminary results of this research demonstrated that for the winter months, air concentrations of ultrafine particles and fine particles were elevated at the location nearest the border relative to more distant sites. Ultrafine particles are highly associated with traffic. Black carbon, an indicator of combustion, was not as affected by location near the border but rather more related to the wind conditions. Levels of black carbon in the air were generally low except when the wind blew from the east or south, indicating a significant regional source affecting the community of San Ysidro.

The U.S. federal government is implementing a San Ysidro Border Station Project, demolishing and re-constructing the U.S.-Mexico border Port-of-entry in San Ysidro. Casa Familiar has taken a lead role in advocating for San Ysidro residents to ensure that the new border crossing design takes into account community concerns. Results from the Healthy Borders project will be combined with suggestions about steps that can be taken to protect border crossers from carbon monoxide, ultrafine and fine particulate matter and diesel particulate matter exposure and will be presented to the Federal government in a report and to the San Ysidro community in forums and public service announcements.