Children living within 11 kilometers of the Salton Sea in Imperial Valley, California, experience slower lung function growth between ages 10 and 12 compared to those residing farther away, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open on Apr. 3. The research, funded partly by the National Institutes of Health, finds that this reduction in lung development is similar to what is observed in children living close to freeways.
The findings are significant because they suggest that environmental conditions around the shrinking Salton Sea could have lasting impacts on respiratory health for local children as they grow into adulthood. As drought and water diversion cause the lake to recede and expose dry lakebed, dust containing fine particles is released into the air—a type of pollution associated with increased risk for lung, heart, immune, and neurological problems.
Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine at USC led the study alongside Comité Civico del Valle. They followed 369 children over two years and measured their lung function using forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). The results showed that those living closer to the Salton Sea had notably lower annual increases in both FVC and FEV1 than peers who lived farther away. Additional exposure to high dust levels further reduced these measures among nearby residents.
The team also found that more than one in five children in this region has asthma—nearly three times higher than national averages—suggesting potential long-term health challenges if current trends continue. "We don't yet know whether these changes are permanent. Some of the damage could potentially be mitigated if environmental exposures are reduced, because children's lungs are still developing," said Shohreh F. Farzan, PhD, associate professor at Keck School of Medicine and co-senior author.
California officials have launched a decade-long plan called the Salton Sea Management Program aimed at addressing environmental concerns related to the drying lakebed. Researchers involved say broader action will be needed as climate change leads other lakes worldwide—including Utah's Great Salt Lake—to shrink and emit harmful dust.
Looking ahead, scientists plan ongoing monitoring of affected children into adolescence and adulthood while investigating which components of airborne dust pose greatest risks.
