H₂S Air Quality Advisory

The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District (SDAPCD) issues H₂S air quality advisories to notify the public when elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) are detected for the communities that may potentially be affected by H₂S odors produced by the transboundary wastewater and sewage flows near the Tijuana River Valley. 

SDAPCD has placed community monitoring sites to measure H₂S levels and the current information captured is below:

Locations

Date

Time

H₂S Levels

(ppB [1])

Berry Elementary School 6/2/26 10 PM - 11 PM 31
San Ysidro Fire Station #29

6/2/26

6/3/26

6/3/26

6/3/26

6/3/26

11 PM - 12 AM

1 AM - 2 AM

2 AM - 3 AM

3 AM - 4 AM

4 AM - 5 AM

56

66

47

57

35

[1] "parts per billion" or ppB is a unit of measurement used to describe the concentration of a substance in the air, water, or soil. Specifically, one part per billion means one part of a substance per one billion parts of the medium (such as air).

The California Office of Health Hazard Assessment has established a threshold of 30 parts per Billion of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) emissions to protect sensitive groups, including children, older adults, and people with certain health conditions. 

H₂S is a gas that can cause a “rotten egg” smell and some individuals may experience odor-related symptoms such as headaches and nausea. H₂S can cause strong odors even at low concentrations.

This H₂S Air Quality Advisory is in effect until 5 PM due to possible changes in weather and wind patterns that can cause H₂S levels to fluctuate throughout the day. If any additional information is available, an update will be issued. 

For current H₂S levels, visit Air Quality Monitoring.

Precautions if odors persist: 

  • Limit outdoor activities.
  • Create a Cleaner Air Space inside your home by closing windows and doors and use air conditioning if available and/or indoor air purifiers.
  • People with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or other chronic lung conditions should have their rescue medication(s) readily available. 
  • If symptoms from strong odor persists, are worrisome, or worsen, seek medical care.
  • If possible, it’s recommended businesses run the HVAC system for 1-2 hours before business hours. 

A full guidance of these precautions is available in the Community Hydrogen Sulfide Guidance, a document developed in partnership with multiple agencies to help interpret hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) threshold levels, about what to expect and recommended actions for each level range. 

 For more information, please visit www.sdapcd.org/TJRiver.

 

Last Updated: June 3, 2026 at 10:09 AM

 
There are no current active H2S Air Quality Advisories or Updates at this time.
 
For more information, please visit  www.sdapcd.org/TJRiver .

Last Updated: June 5, 2026 at 2:40 PM