California Legislature Advances Legislation Mandating Stricter Hydrogen Sulfide Air Standards
SACRAMENTO – This week, the California Legislature approved Senate Bill 58 by Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego), which will direct the California Air Resources Board to update California’s air quality standard for hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a gas that is found at high concentrations in the Tijuana River Valley and the Salton Sea region. California’s hydrogen sulfide standard has not been updated since 1969.
H2S is a colorless gas that smells of rotten eggs. It is commonly found in natural gas and oil extraction and is a natural emission from geothermal fields, but is also present during bacterial decomposition of human and animal waste. Exposure to H2S can cause headaches, nausea, eye and respiratory irritation and current evidence indicates that chronic exposure can contribute to persistent respiratory and neurological impacts, with heightened susceptibility among children, older adults, and individuals with preexisting health conditions. The gas is found in exceptionally high quantities in the Tijuana River Valley and the Salton Sea region.
These exposures disproportionately affect vulnerable and environmentally overburdened communities, including low-income households, immigrant communities, Latino and Tribal populations, and areas already experiencing elevated rates of respiratory and other health conditions, exacerbating existing health inequities. Yet, the state’s current framework for Hydrogen Sulfide lacks incorporation of the unique nature of the Salton Sea and the Tijuana River Valley resulting in a lack of clear, consistent guidance on appropriate responses to address hydrogen sulfide exposure and protect public health in our communities.
The California Ambient Air Quality Standard (CCAAQS) for H2S was established by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in 1969, at 0.03 parts per million (30ppb), averaged over one hour. This standard was developed to control odor nuisance, not to protect public health. The last review of the standard occurred in 1984, when the California Department of Public Health concluded that the existing standard was adequate. It concluded that tightening the standard would have only a “disappointingly small effect” on reducing odor intensity. The 1984 review focused on odor detectability and annoyance thresholds, not toxicological or epidemiologic data. No comprehensive review has been conducted in over four decades, despite advances in understanding chronic and low-level H2S health risks.
“San Diegans suffer from the effects of overexposure to this gas every day,” said Senator Padilla. “We owe it to these communities to make this long overdue update.”
SB 58 directs the California Air Resources Board (CARB), in consultation with local air districts, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), the Office of Emergency Services, the State Department of Public Health, regional water quality control boards or other local or regional authorities, local environmental and public health agencies, universities and academic institutions, affected tribal governments, and community-based organizations, to develop a response framework that establishes best practices and guidance for addressing fugitive and natural sources of H2S gas and for community preparation and response to H2S exposure events originating from these sources.
The framework is intended to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of hydrogen sulfide exposure by providing a more accurate understanding of acute and chronic impacts on vulnerable populations, to improve identification of gaps, and inform approaches to address chronic exposure. In doing so, SB 58 will strengthen understanding of community-level health risks and improve coordination among agencies responding to hydrogen sulfide events in the Tijuana River Valley and Salton Sea.
Senator Padilla has authored several measures to address the public health crisis at California’s Southern Border. To read more about Senator Padilla’s previous efforts to address the pollution in the Tijuana River Valley, click here, here and here.
Senate Bill 58 is supported by the science community and local leaders.
“The passage of SB 58 by the State Senate is a vital step forward for our South San Diego communities,” said San Diego County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre. “I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Senator Padilla for his leadership and the Senate for listening to our residents and voting to pass this critical legislation. Residents across South County and the Tijuana River Valley have continuously borne the brunt of toxic hydrogen sulfide spikes without a unified response strategy. By uniting state agencies, regional partners, tribal leaders, and local advocates, SB 58 delivers the framework we need to address acute exposure to hydrogen sulfide and protect public health."
SB 58 passed the Senate unanimously 40-0 and the Assembly with bipartisan support 79-0. The bill now heads to Governor Newsom’s desk for his signature.
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Steve Padilla represents the 18th Senate District, which includes the communities of Chula Vista, the Coachella Valley, Imperial Beach, the Imperial Valley, National City, and San Diego. Prior to his election to the Senate in 2022, Senator Padilla was the first person of color ever elected to city office in Chula Vista, the first Latino Mayor, and the first openly LGBT person to serve or be elected to city office. Website of Senator Steve Padilla: https://sd18.senate.ca.gov/
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