Climate Science and Policy

Climate change has increased the frequency of extreme heat and dry events worldwide, with profound implications for the health of drying saline lakes. The synergistic compound exposure of extreme heat and dust around these environments as they recede poses hazards for public health, being linked to increased rates of respiratory disease. A relevant example of climate and policy-driven compound exposure around drying saline lakes is California’s Salton Sea, having been polluted by farm runoff and receding due to the decline of the Colorado River and the 2003 Quantification Settlement Agreement for water management. Local communities today have lower household incomes and higher rates of respiratory disease than state averages. Investigating compound extreme heat and dust events in the region and their health outcomes through the lens of health equity is thus crucial as a case study for climate adaptation and ensuring environmental justice. This study examines various metrics for spatiotemporal extreme heat and dust compound exposure around the Salton Sea using publicly available temperature, air quality, and health datasets. Our results suggest that compound exposure is increasing over time in the area, with the most disadvantaged communities, particularly racial and ethnic minorities, bearing the highest exposures and adverse health effects.