River turbulence can push toxic pollutants into the air

Toxic pollutants from a Southern California river are infiltrating the air.

Polluted water surging along a turbulent section of the Tijuana River in San Diego can release toxic gases, including hydrogen sulfide, into the air, researchers report in the Aug. 28 Science. In a nearby neighborhood, hydrogen sulfide — produced from sewage breakdown and known for its rotten egg smell — peaked at levels thousands of times the typical urban amounts.

“As far as we can tell, this…