SDSU Professor Hoh Featured in Documentary Revealing DDT Contamination

SAN DIEGO, CA — A powerful documentary exposing the hidden environmental dangers off the coast of Southern California will premiere at the San Diego Asian Film Festival on April 25, 2025. Titled ”, the film highlights decades of toxic waste left beneath the pristine waters near Catalina Island, primarily focusing on the harmful impacts of DDT contamination.

San Diego State University professor Eunha Hoh plays a pivotal role in the film, showcasing her significant research on high levels of the insecticide DDT, which continues to threaten marine life and human health in the region. “These chemicals have entered and biomagnified through the marine food web,” Hoh stated. “We are seeing impacts not only in marine mammals but also in endangered species like the California condor, which feeds on marine mammal carcasses along the coast.”

DDT, once widely used as an insecticide, was banned in the U.S. over 50 years ago due to its toxic effects. However, its byproducts remain in the environment, compounding the danger. Hoh emphasized, “DDT can persist in the environment for many decades, potentially hundreds of years. More importantly, the degradation of DDT is significantly slower in deep ocean environments due to the lack of oxygen and sunlight.”

In 2015, Hoh’s team detected some of the highest DDT levels recorded in marine mammals throughout the Southern California Bight, discovering up to 45 distinct substances linked to DDT. This coastline stretches 430 miles from Point Conception in California to Punta Colonet in Baja California, extending into various Pacific regions.

Additional findings by UC Santa Barbara professor David Valentine corroborated Hoh’s research, indicating a continuous source of DDT contamination related to historical offshore dumping practices. “Our findings strongly suggest an ongoing source of DDT contamination linked to offshore dumping,” Hoh affirmed. This alarming discovery has ignited scientific and media scrutiny, prompting investigative reports and documentaries, including the LA Times Studio’s ‘Out of Plain Sight.’

The film, which showcases the ongoing investigation into DDT’s effects, will be screened on opening night at UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley at 7 p.m. on April 25. Released in November 2024, it has already garnered accolades, winning the Audience Choice Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and the Shared Earth Foundation Award for Advocacy at the 2025 Environmental Film Festival in Washington, D.C.

In conjunction with this vital environmental awareness, San Diego State University will host a sustainability summit on April 16, 2025, in Montezuma Hall at the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union. This event will provide a platform for faculty, staff, and students to engage in discussions about advancing sustainability initiatives.

Nalleli Cobo, a renowned activist who successfully campaigned to shut down a toxic oil drilling site in her community, will be a featured speaker at the summit. Cobo’s activism has significantly influenced policy changes targeting urban oil extraction in California, leading to the enactment of Senate Bill 1137 in 2022.

The summit aims to unite the SDSU community in a shared commitment to sustainability, featuring sessions on sustainable practices, climate action plans, and regional infrastructure efforts. The event will also honor four Sustainability Champions for their contributions to advancing environmentally friendly practices at the university. Participants will have opportunities to learn from experts and connect with like-minded individuals dedicated to fostering a sustainable future.