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During the winter time, we experience the inversion which traps pollution in the valley.
This pollution causes heart and/or lung conditions to many individuals. Three main
causes are; Population growth, particulate vehicle emissions, and sulfate emissions
from refineries.
Population in Utah has not helped with the air quality. Nearly 400,000 people
have been added to the population in the past decade. Salt Lake County, where most
of the pollution is trapped, is currently estimated at 1,137,820 and is one of the fastest
growing populations in the nation. Coal, natural gas, and wood is used during the
Transportation is another issue that comes with population growth. The main
contributor of poor air quality is vehicle exhaust. Roughly 48% of pollution comes from
Industrial coal burning is also a factor. Sulfur dioxide is emitted from burning
fossil fuels. About 13% of pollution comes from refineries. These particles can mix with
Pollution is doubled daily during the inversion. I don’t think people take into
account the air quality when planning their day. Since almost half of all pollution comes
from vehicle emissions, people should be more aware of the effects of driving. If people
understand the very serious effects of living in the toxic chemical inversion, it may
prevent vehicle emissions, rapid population growth, and create greener ways to
“The Utah Diesel Program started in 2008 and was created to help small
businesses, school districts, government entities, and universities purchase cleaner and
more fuel efficient equipment. These successful projects demonstrate the commitment
to help improve the air quality challenges faced in Utah. However, this is not enough
and there are more changes that people can make to help reduce poor air
are using. More the half of the air pollutants could be reduced by consciously
carpooling, reducing the temperature of your home, and using cold water for laundry.
During an inversion the cold air traps city pollutants which are then trapped due
to the surrounding mountains. Vehicles, fireplaces, stoves and industries are the biggest
contributors to the amount of pollution daily, especially during the colder months. “Most
large industries and some smaller industries are bound by national air quality standards
for criteria pollutants and Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPS). These standards reduce
[3]” (Health.utah.gov)
The Clean Air Act regulates ground level o-zone, particulate matter, sulfur
dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, led, and other hazardous chemicals in the
air in the United States. Utah recently passed an act for clean indoor air, prohibiting
smoking and vaping within 25 feet of an entrance of a building. Oxygen is plays a major
particles can cause issues that are fatales such as; asthma, heart attacks, cancer and
pre-mature death.
Forest fires and wind storms can also cause havoc on our environment making
lakes and streams too acidic, damaging our land and crops. Sulfur Dioxide, which
comes from chemical manufacturing and refiners is a precursor to acid-rain. People with
Asthma tend to be more sensitive to these pollutants and are in danger of Asthma
Attacks. According to Centers for Disease control and Prevention, 1 in 13 people have
asthma, making this an epidemic. Weeks of inversion can lead to serious health effects
for Utahns and is something we must focus on finding a solution to before too much
Simple measure such as; planting more trees and plants can suck tons of carbon
dioxide and other pollutants. “Italian architect Stefano Boeri, whose awarding-winning
Boeri’s two adjacent Milan towers, which were completed in 2014, support 4,500
shrubs, 15,000 plants and 800 trees, some as tall as 27 feet.The greenery flanking the
and absorb 80kg of fine, polluting particles every year.” (thetimes.com/Kington, 2019)
The Guardian, reports Paris, banning vehicles during major pollution events and
is making public transportation free at those times. Delhi is banning all new large diesel
powered vehicles by 2025. In Germany, people are rewarded with cheaper housing,
free public transportation, and bicycle spaces for living car free. Copenhagen has
banned vehicles in the Danish capital for decades and plans to be carbon neutral by
2025. Helsinki wants to make the public transit so good that no one will want a car by
2025. Zurich only allows a certain number of cars in the city at a time. Curitiba, Brazilian
city of 2 million has the biggest and lowest cost for the bus system and is already almost
pollutant and traffic free. Bangalore, one of the poorest countries in the world, has
available to prevent vehicle emissions. Some of them are converting to natural gas,
which still contains the very toxic chemical methane. Some are banning vehicles all
together. Urban green infrastructures are popular in Europe and seem to have direct
benefits in air pollution control. I would like to see more policies and ideas being
implemented in Utah, and a cross the United States. I don’t believe cost should be an
issue. It is a matter of how we disburse our wealth in America and what we see as
important. I hope Utahns and Americans alike are able to take action on this very time
sensitive matter before it is too late. Carpooling, limiting cold starts, avoiding idling,
combining trips, public transportation, and riding a bike are current solutions to cleaner
air. Get involved in local advocacy groups such as; Heal Utah, and Clean the Darn Air,
UCAN, and Breathe Utah to donate time or money to make a difference by creating a
Particulates have made the air increasingly worse in the past quarter century.
the matter and has brought about advocacy groups such as; Heal Utah, Clean the Darn
Air, UCAN, and Breathe Utah. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention In the United
States are aware of the matter but not much has been done. We must impacts citizens
enough to make daily changes for the sustainability of their future, and their children’s
future.
Heal Utah exclaims they help to, “develops and implement science-based
solutions to reduce emissions and improve the air we breathe. Whether presenting
innovative ideas to the legislature’s Clean Air Caucus or collaborating with local groups
about ways to encourage individual changes...” (healutah.org) Some of the Clean Air
Caucus meeting topics include; Zero Emission housing, Snowpack and Wildfire Risks,
and Economics on Carbon Dividends. Heal Utah advocates for people taking advantage
of technology and combing trips. They currently are trying to make public transportation
free on bad air quality days during the inversion. “HEAL works to educate the general
public and car dealerships about how to find their smog rating and what it means, and to
encourage the public to purchase cars with higher smog ratings.” (healutah.org) There
is currently no mandate in Utah for Zero Emission Vehicles, so they are difficult to find at
a decent price. Heal Utah is working towards developing ways to make Zero emission
Clean the Darn Air is currently attempting to collect 116,000 signatures to put
more funding towards cleaning the air for 2020. “Our 2020 ballot measure proposal for
Utah is to provide $100m a year for air quality programs, $50m a year for rural
economic development, and long-needed tax reforms like eliminating the state sales tax
on grocery store food, all of it paid for with a modest carbon tax on the fossil fuels that
are the main source of both local air quality problems and global climate
change.” (cleanthedarnair.org) They currently have a month and a half to fund the
economic boom. In a state where the air quality can get really nasty, it is crucial that we
take our time, energy, and money to support greener ways of commuting. Heal Utah,
Clean the Darn Air, and other organizations are doing as much as they can to
contribute, but ultimately, it is up to us and citizens of Salt Lake City to make an effort
You can volunteer time or money to any of these organizations on top of being
more eco-conscious. I spent a few hours at Red Butte Gardens collecting signatures for
Clean the Darn Air’s current petition for 2020. I notice that many people were not open
to talking to me initially but were open to signing once informed. There were many
people who were not registered voters or residence of Utah. Some people didn’t want to
sign the petition and I am unsure of why. I chose to respect their choice and move
forward. It is critical that we keep people informed but do not push our views onto
others.
I want to continue working with Clean the Darn Air to help them put more funding
going towards cleaning the air, a very crucial part of human health. You can contribute
commuting and try to take public transportation whenever is possible. There is no better
time to get involved in a matter that will effect all of our lives and futures.
Resources and more information-
health.utah.gov/enviroepi/healthyhomes/epht/AirPollution_PublicHealth.pdf
https://www.cleanthedarnair.org/clean-the-air-carbon-tax-act/
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-awards-utah-23m-reduce-diesel-emissions-
along-wasatch-front
https://www.healutah.org/about/
https://www.actionutah.org/2019/05/22/mark-your-calendar-to-attend-clean-air-caucus-
meetings/
https://deq.utah.gov/communication/news/recap-2017-18-inversion-season
https://www.abc4.com/news/4pm-sponsored/how-the-utah-indoor-clean-air-act-is-
combating-smoking/
https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2018/01/09/utahs-air-quality-is-sickening-
even-killing-locals-year-round-new-research-suggests/
http://airmonitoring.utah.gov/
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-other-countries-are-tackling-air-
pollution-0nk2mkh97