Utahns are very concerned about the air quality, especially in Salt Lake City.

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

winter months to heat homes.

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

vehicle exhaust. Maintenance on your vehicle, carpooling, public transportation and

even having a newer vehicle can improve the air quality.

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

particulate matter and create hazardous gases that do not go away.

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

support industrial needs.

“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

quality.” (EPA.gov) It is up to us as citizens of Utah to reduce the amount of energy we

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.

Especially during the inversion.

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

emissions by requiring upgrading emissions controls with new technology.

[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

role in human health and it is something to be taken seriously. Inhaling microscopic

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

damage has been done to Utah and it’s people.

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

Vertical Forest project in Milan is being copied in China. Steel-reinforced balconies on

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

building is enough to suck in 30 tonnes of carbon dioxide, produce 19 tonnes of oxygen

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

vehicles. Politicians in the Netherlands want to only allow hydrogen or electronically

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

reduced its traffic by 20% by converting 6,000 buses to natural gas.

 Most of these cities seem to be making public transportation more readily

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

greener, healthier, and more beautiful environment.

Particulates have made the air increasingly worse in the past quarter century.

Utah Department of Environmental Quality has released researched information about

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

vehicles more affordable and available to the general public.

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

program for 2020.

In this day and age, it should be much easier to be eco-friendly, especially, in an

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

every day to be more ecologically friendly and in balance with nature.

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

by signing this petition or contacting them to donate time or money at

cleanthedarnair.org. Minimally we should all be conscious of how often we are

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