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Diana Saltos
Ben Jorgensen
Writing 1010
4/17/14
Utahs Air Pollution Reality
Air pollution has become a growing problem at the national and international level. In the
most recent years we have seen noticeable involvement from health specialist and government
officials looking for solutions to improve the air quality in the world especially in Utah, but
should we leave all the responsibility to leaders and doctors? Utah citizens should participate
more on the local initiatives to keep a healthy Utah.
According to Emerson Urry, from EnviroNews, Salt Lake City, Ogden, Provo and Logan
are among the top 5 cities with the worst air quality records on the Environmental Protection Air
Qualitys records (EPA). The website stateofair.org Salt Lake City, Ogden and Provo, re among
the top 12 most polluted cities in the United States as of January 2014. This years red air
pollution streak has once again slotted several prominent Utah cities amongst places 1 through 5
on the EPAs air quality index mentioned Urry on the article Largest Air Pollution Rally in
U.S. History Goes Down on Utah's Capitol Hill. We are used to seeing other countries and
states facing air pollution. It becomes very alarming to know we face the same problem in our
own neighborhoods and it is affecting us all. It is even frustrating to know not enough has been
done to combat this outbreak. The reality is we live in some of the most air polluted cities in the
nation.
Due to the geographic features in Utah, it is believed inversion causes air pollution to stay
in the valley during winter months. According to the Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment
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(UPHE), inversion is not the cause but an element of the
poor air quality in the Wasatch Front. The graph on the right
shows the three major factors that contribute to the air
pollution in Utah, these are: vehicle fumes 57 percent, wood
burning 32 percent, and industries pollutants 11 percent.
(Pollution Source, KUED.org)
For the past five years it is been noticeable how both
national and local agencies have raised their voices to the
government to take action on the increasing air pollution. Among these agencies are Utah
Physicians for Healthy Environment (UPHE), Utah Moms for Clean Air, the Sierra Club,
WildEarth Guardians, and a few others. Each agency works on their own to promote clean air in
Utah. There are several initiatives being implemented at the local government level, such as the
wood-burn program and the clean diesel program (airquality.utah.org.). Even though there are
initiatives being implemented to promote clean air in Utah since 2008, there are many concerned
citizens that believe there is still a lot more we can do to improve our air quality.
On a recent seminar at the downtown library on February 27, 2014 a group of concerned
physicians provided a great amount of information regarding the facts and fiction on Utahs air
pollution. Air pollution does not only affect people with respiratory diseases, air pollution affects
everyone that is exposed to the pollutants released to the air. There are many consequences to the
constant exposure to polluted air mentioned Doctor Kenner, one of the speakers at the seminar.
People with lung diseases are more susceptible to becoming affected by the pollutants in the air.
During high polluted days there are millions of small particles in the air that enter our lungs
causing inflammation in our bodies through the blood oxygenation. Our heart rate increases and
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our entire bodies are on constant distress from trying to maintain the body working properly."
Every time our lungs absorb pollutants, our life expectancy drops 10 percent. That is about a
decrease of 8 years of our lives (http://www.uphe.org).
There are researches that show how cigarettes including second hand smoke causes lung
cancer among other diseases. New researches prove air pollution causes premature death
associated with lung cancer and heart disease. Studies dated back to the coal-burning era such as
in Meuse Valley, Belgium (1930), Donora, PA, (1948) and London, England (1952) show how
continuous exposure to polluted air causes long term disease including death. In a recent
interview by Kristen Stewart from the Salt Lake Tribune to Arden Pope BYU economist, Pope
talks about how new investigations indicate premature death can be caused by constant exposure
to polluted air. Right after the Geneva Steel in Vineyard, UT was shut down and reopened
towards the late 1980s. Pope noticed the critical impact of this event in the community, since
then he has continued to work on researches with other collaborators including Harvard
University that showed how pollution is directly linked to premature death, hospitalizations for
respiratory problems and death from lung cancer and heart disease. He also documented reduced
lung function in children (sltrib.com). There are many studies taking place that shows how
much damage polluted air causes to all living creatures, it is important to be aware of the
pollution effects in order to take actions to improve our current air condition.
The polluted air breathed by expecting mothers is not only harmful to them it is also
detrimental to the fetus. Recent studies show how the fetus DNA changes while in the womb
due to the mothers constant exposure to polluted air. Air pollution breathed by a pregnant
mother causes epigenetic changes in the womb, which is associated with higher rates of asthma
and decreased lung function in those children 5 years later. Air pollution is also related with
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birth defects. Mothers that have been exposed to polluted air can be potentially affected after
their pregnancy, there are records that indicate new mothers have been diagnose with high blood
pressure, premature births low birth weight syndrome, among other related birth defects
(uphe.org).
Autism is also related to air pollution. In the article Harvard Draws Link between
Autism and Air Pollution by Caleb Warnock with the Daily Herald, he explains According to
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, one in 47 Utah children is afflicted with autism, compared
to one in 210 in Alabama, which has the best rate. According to the Utah Registry of Autism and
Developmental Disabilities, the number of Utah 8-year-olds with autism has come close to
tripling since 2002. Women who are exposed to high levels of diesel or mercury in the air were
more prompt to have a kid with autism. There are other researches taking place at the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency looking for association between levels of pollutants during the
time the women were pregnant in relation with the child that has been diagnose with autism.
There are records that show that 1,000 to 2,000 people die every year from the direct
effects of air pollution. It is crucial for us to be aware of the magnitude of this 21
st
century
environmental decline we face. Any kind of exposure to contaminated air is bad for us in the
short and long run. A recent study conducted in Utah shows the correlation between constant
exposures to polluted air and the increase of heart attacks. Dr. Howie Garber M.D. with the Utah
Physicians for Healthy Environment, explains how there are short term and long term
consequences to the constant exposure to polluted air. "A recent study of 65,000 women
conduced over 4 years found that 10ug/3m rise in chronic PM2.5 exposure resulted in a 24
percent increase in the risk of cardiovascular events, a 76 percent increase in the risk of death
from heart disease and 35 percent increase in the risk from stroke."
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In a news article by Caleb Warnock with the Daily Herald, Warnock states how state
officials are providing the public with misleading information about the real effects of air
pollution. There are some statements on the state health department's website regarding air
pollution and pregnancy that we think are scientifically indefensible, he said. Their website
basically dismisses air pollution as a trigger of poor pregnancy outcomes. We have 130 scientific
studies that challenge that statement. There are several advocates for Healthy Utah that have
been working with government officials and concern citizens to make a difference on our
environment.
Some people believe the air pollution is solely caused by Utahs winter inversion, (when
cold air and pollutants get trapped in the valley) then why is it that this year particularly Utahs
air quality has exceeded the air pollution level and has called for National concern?
The government claims to be working on aiming to solve the problem we have with
polluted air in Utah. It is true we have seen important figures, such as Governor Herbert,
addressed the concerned public about the voluntary actions implemented to reduce air pollution
in our environment. But is voluntary action from the government everything we need? On a
recent interview with Dr. Michael Woodruff he explained there are many things the public can
do to help the government take aggressive actions to reduce and eliminate the growing problem
of air pollution in the Wasatch Front. "We live in a city were our local leaders and elected
officials are willing to speak with us regarding issues we have in our community. It is important
each citizen is aware of the harm polluted air does to your bodies. It is also important to stay
connected with elected officials to in force clean air as part of their agendas. At the end of the
day they need our vote to be reelected." He encourages that we contact our local legislation to
raise our environment concerns via email, over the phone, or in person.
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There are many concerned citizens working together with associations to protect our
environment. On Saturday January 25, 2014 the biggest rally in the history of polluted air took
placed at Capitol Hill. We noticed how thousands of people showed up to the Capitol
demonstrating their concern about air pollution in Utah. Leaders and politicians such Salt Lake
City Mayor Ralph Becker, State Senator Jim Dabakis, Brian Moench withbUtah Physicians for a
Healthy Environment among others, addressed the concern citizens about the actions our
government should put in place for Utahans to enjoy a healthy environment. The most
fundamental right there is is the right to breathe clean air, Monench mentioned. Air pollution
tarnishes our community reputation, it erodes our quality of life and stifles our economy much as
it does our lungs.
On February 27
th
another group of concerned citizens showed up at the Salt Lake City
Library to the seminar Smoke and Mirrors during the seminar a group of physicians talked
about the facts and fictions about air pollution, how much it affects us and the way the
government blind fold us regarding this growing beast. The current regulations been
implemented to reduced air pollution on the industry level are not strong enough. Oil refineries
and mines such as Holly Frontier and Rio Tinto are constantly getting away with weak
regulations and false pollution reports. Instead of given them stronger regulations, the
government continues to subsidize their programs which according to the Utah Sierra group,
there are rumors the government is getting to approve an expansion.
We all have the right to live in a clean environment. There is a lot the community can do
to help with the current air condition, we can all help with reduce wood burning, carpool and use
public transportation during high polluted days, decreasing the speed on the freeways help as
well. None the least, lets teach our future generation it is important to stay active on our
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government decisions. We owe it to our children and their grandchildren. It is our duty to assure
we will leave a clean place to live for our future generation.






















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Work Cited

American Lung Association State of the Air 2013. 17 Apr. 2013. Tues 11 Mar. 2014.
<www.stateofair.org>.

Division of Air Quality. 2012 Annual Report. 2014. Wed 16 Apr. 2014.
<www.airquality.utah.gov>.

Dr. Howie Garber M.D. "Pollution & Health: Air quality in the Wasatch Front is a public health
crisis" Web. 28 Feb.2014.

Dr. Moench, Brian and Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment. Smoke and Mirrors: Facts
vs Fiction about Utahs Air Pollutin," Salt Lake City Main Library. Auditorium. Salt
Lake City, UT. 27 Feb. 2014.

Dr. Woodruff, Michael. Personal Interview. 4 Apr. 2014.

Stewart, Kristen. How does Utahs bad air hurt our health? The Salt Lake Tribune.26 Jan 2014.
Thur. 30 Jan. 2014. <www.sltrib.com>.

The Air We Breathe. Background. Pollution Sources, 2014. Wed 5 Mar. 2014. <www.kued.org>.

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Urry, Emerson .Largest Air Pollution Rally in US History Goes Down on Utah's Capitol Hill.
The Truth-out, 02 Fed.2014. Thur. 10 Apr. 2014. <http:www.truth-out.org>.

Utah Physicians for Healthy Environments. The Health Consequences of Air Pollution. 17 Dec
2011. Wed. 26 Jan. 2014. <www.uohe.org>.

Utah Sierra Club. Kennecott-Rio Tinto Mine Expansion, 2013. Thur. 1 May. 2014
<http://utah.sierraclub.org>.

Warnock, Caleb. Doctors: Utah using misinformation on danger of air pollution. Daily
Herald. 27 Feb. 2014. Thur. 13 Feb. 2014. <www.hraldextra.com>.

Warnock, Caleb. Harvard draws link between autism and air pollution. Daily Herald. 16 Mar.
2014. Thur. 13 Feb. 2014. <www.hraldextra.com>.