Pollution Solution 1
Alyssa Torres, Kaella McDougal, Faith Lord, Mikal Norton
English 1010-66
April 29th, 2015
Pollution Solution
Fig. 1 shows Utah valley with and without the inversion. (Time Science)
Twelve year old Sara Lopez has been heavily medicated due to allergies and asthma
since she was five. Remarkably, her parents noticed that every time they went on vacation
outside of their home in Utah her allergies would subside and she wouldn’t need to use her
inhaler. Her mother, Christy Lopez, recalls one time in particular:
Sara didn’t need to use her inhaler the whole trip, but the day we got home she
had an asthma attack. It was so severe that we had to use her nebulizer. I ended
up making an appointment with her physician later on that week and he found a
growth in her sinuses where it had to be surgically removed. We aren’t sure if
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this growth is due to the air quality in Utah. But we are sure it isn’t something
that can be ruled out. (Lopez)
The growth had been one of the main reasons the Lopez family moved to Seattle out of
the poor air quality that Utah is facing. “Sara hasn’t had to use her inhaler once since we
moved, and she’s no longer on any medications,” Lopez stated.
Pollution harms us and those we know, daily. Thick, unnatural scum in our air is one
thing that even the healthiest can’t avoid. We’re trapped. Here in the Salt Lake valley the air we
need to breathe is especially toxic. So what is pollution? What damage has it already done? And
how can we protect ourselves and those around us from it?
Air pollution is defined as “harmful particles, liquids, or gases in the atmosphere that are
detrimental to humans and other forms of life” (EBSCO). Pollution is such an issue that it has
been divided into different categories: Primary pollutants caused by processes, such as sulfurdioxide from factories; secondary pollutants caused by the mingling of primary pollutants,
which we often call smog; outdoor pollution which is everywhere; and indoor pollution which
targets those in the workplace as well as in homes. In addition to pollution caused by human
activity, it can occur naturally through natural disasters such as volcanoes and fires. Pollution
damages our ozone layer, alters the natural chemicals in the atmosphere, and hinders the well-
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being of all.
Fig. 2 Describes and shows the size of PM2.5. (Salt Lake City Tribune)
All pollutants, ranging from tobacco smoke to power plants, carry tiny particles that are
referred to as PM2.5 (See Figures 1 and 2). The main causes of PM2.5 are the combustion of
coal and car exhaust. Utah, in particular, has an uncommon problem when it comes to air
pollution because of the inversion it faces every winter. “Our situation is unique. We should be
able to tailor whatever approaches work best, regardless of the federal standards. Utah
problems need Utah solutions” (Jacobsen). Utah’s inversion is caused when warm air and the
mountains trap cold air into our valley. The cold air then traps the pollutants along with it,
creating a fish bowl of toxins. And unfortunately, Utah, with its fish bowl, doesn’t seem to be
getting quite the amount of help it needs.
Fig 3. Diagram of a Utah Inversion. (Utah.gov)
The burning of fossil fuels is a major cause of pollution. Petroleum and coal are relied on
to provide us with fuel for our transportation, but their overuse is damaging to our
environment. Cars, planes, and trains are often recognized as harmful to the air we breathe, as
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thick black exhaust is visibly emitted. Factory exhaust releases chemicals into the air, as well as
mining, which releases dust and chemicals that are detrimental to the air quality and the health
of those working in the mines and living nearby. Even farming, with the use of pesticides,
fertilizers, and insecticides, releases harmful gases into the atmosphere. It seems like it’s almost
impossible to avoid: the progression of life that we have obtained is causing our earth and our
health, essentially, the quality of our life, to regress rapidly.
As previously mentioned, mining is attributed to many pollutants in the Salt Lake Valley.
The largest known open mine in the United States lives in the base of Brigham Canyon.
Rio Tinto/Kennecott (RTK) was founded 109 years ago and covers 1,900 acres in South Jordan’s
Oquirrh mountains. The main minerals that are extracted are copper, iron sulfides, and
mercury, which ultimately release dust and toxins into the air. In 2001 RTK released 695 million
pounds of toxic waste into the air and water. The Environmental Protection Agency allowed
RTK to not fully disclose the amount of waste released. To the public’s knowledge only 182
million pounds were emitted. (Earthworks)
Because of these many pollutants, Utah’s air quality has become the main focus of many
families that base themselves in Salt Lake City, their main concerns being their children. In
many schools the teachers must check websites like airnow.gov to show whether they can even
allow the children out for recess. “We haven’t had all that many Red Days this year,” says Mrs.
Marilyn of Sunrise Elementary School, “but there was one time four or five years ago when we
kept the kids in for nearly the entire month of January, the inversion was so bad. We also have
a handful of kids, special cases, who stay inside if it gets polluted in the slightest. They have
asthma or respiratory problems pretty bad.” Altara Elementary School concurs. This year hasn’t
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been terrible for ‘Red Days’ – days when the school is alerted by the state that the air is unsafe
for the kids to breathe – but in the past, Red Days have been a huge problem for schools and
people of all ages. When did we have to become afraid of our own air? Even in our homes and
our schools, we truly are trapped.
Not only have we seen issues with respiratory problems, as we discussed with Sara Lopez,
but there are many studies and reports on autism in children as an effect of living in a polluted
environment both in utero and in early years of life. Recent studies have linked air pollution with
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Environmental Health Perspectives states, “These studies
suggest increased odds of having a child with ASD with higher exposures to diesel particulate
matter, several metals, criteria pollutants, and some organic materials as well as closer
proximity to a freeway.”(Environmental Health Perspectives 264)
A mother’s exposure to pollution during pregnancy, especially during the third trimester,
increases chances of a child having ASD. The diagnosis of autism has become much more common
in the recent years, with its milder Asperger’s Syndrome affecting about 1 in 88 children. NBC news
also posted an article showing the association with ASD and air pollutants. The article quotes
Marc Weisskopf, a professor at Harvard School of Public Health. Marc Weisskopf believes they
have “shed a light” on the development of autism from the studies they have conducted on
pregnant women in their third trimester. The study entailed women who lived in polluted areas
as well as less-polluted areas. Among the 116,000 mothers that participated, 245 children were
identified with ASD. The mothers of the 245 children all lived in high polluted areas during their
third trimester. (Briggs)
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In addition to autism, the massive amount of pollution in Utah has been linked to Utah’s
high suicide rate. Suicides in Utah often occur after days of high pollution levels. There have
been similar studies done in other polluted areas of the world, such as Canada, South Korea,
and Taiwan, which have also associated suicide rates with pollution.
As air pollution is a widely recognized issue, many solutions have been tried, and if more
of the population was on board, would be sure to make a difference. SLCgreen, implemented
under Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker, is a website dedicated to increasing Utahns’
understanding of pollution and its causes, as well as discussing possible solutions. The site
describes accomplishments Utah has made to this point with things such as the Clear the Air
Challenge, which reduced over nine million miles traveled by vehicles; transitioning patrol
officers to bicycles; placing TRAX locations near city services; introducing a solar farm; providing
larger bike lanes; and adopting the Idle Free Ordinance. SLCgreen also suggests opportunities
available to each of us in staying informed, skipping trips, using public transit like TRAX,
committing to be idle-free, biking, and driving fewer miles each July by continuing the Clear the
Air Challenge.
SLCgreen is just one among many programs dedicated to cleaning Utah’s air. “In 2012,
HEAL began our Clean Air Campaign. The initial effort was pushing Tier-Three standards for
vehicles, but we have since expanded into nearly every other facet of this issue,” Ashley
Soltysiak states, when asked how long Heal Utah was been working toward clean air in Salt Lake
City. Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah (Heal Utah) is a non-profit organization that has
dedicated itself to getting people involved in hearings, and to truly ask tough questions. They
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also took on Magcorp and Davis County Garbage Incinerator by campaigning against the dioxin
they were releasing.
While significant steps have been made legislatively, especially during the 2014
session, we believe that there is certainly room for improvement. We advocate
for everything from increased stack testing, reduced coal pollution, improved
transit, and beyond. While some of our initiatives target individual users like
transit or wood-burning, we also focus on the contributions of industry, utilities,
and government. Essentially, a multi-pronged approach helps us to improve air
quality on a number of fronts.
In regard to the 2015 legislative session, more could have certainly been done in
my opinion. While major legislative successes should not be ignored – like Rep.
Edwards HB 226 – Bills with teeth like Rep. Chavez-Houk’s Tire Fee Amendments
Bill or Sen. Escamilla’s Air Quality Amendments were deemed DOA.
Unfortunately, I have personally noted a trend of bad bills being blasted through
by powerful sponsors and lobbyists with major clout, where positive pieces of
legislation seem to take longer to even be considered. I hope I have not
characterized it too negatively, but the fact is that pollution pays. (Soltysiak)
Even if many of these bills are “DOA” they won’t mean anything unless the community
acts together on this issue. As Soltysiak states, “This is an issue that is multi-faceted and will
require change on every level. In the long run, this will require a willingness to make some
personal sacrifice—which I again believe means a high degree of honesty, collaboration,
creativity and compassion for one another.”
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Long-term solutions will only come with time. What we can work on now are the shortterm solutions that will hopefully have an impact to better the future of Utah. Educating people
and making them aware of the issue at hand will benefit Utahns as a whole. For anyone, it is
hard to constantly keep track of when there are red days, bills being passed that ultimately can
hurt Utahns and what campaigns we should participate in. By creating an app that pertains to
these important things, citizens of Utah can not only be aware of what is affecting our
environment, but they can also choose what they truly care about, all in the palms of their
hands. There are many programs where you can create an app for only a dollar a month. This
app will list when we have red days and promote the use of bike or transit, or even carpool
systems, and will inform us on upcoming government bills and campaigns. All of this
information, easy to access, will help the communities understanding and promote awareness.
Air pollution is in fact a detriment to the quality of life for all Utahns. It has caused pain
and sickness, as well as worry and fear, to many individuals and families who suffer from
respiratory problems or depressive disorders. Utah’s fish bowl needs cleaning, and it’s up to
each one of us residents. If we allow the problem to persist, as Utah’s population grows, it will
only harm more and more people. Or, we can each take part in a pollution solution and heal
Utah one day, one bike ride, one educated person at a time.
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Work Cited
Lopez, Christy. Telephone Interview. 17 April 2015.
Gulbransen, Marilyn. Personal. 20th April 2015.
Soltysiak, Ashley. Email. 21st April, 2015
Briggs, Bill. “Autism and Air Pollution: New Study Bolsters Suspected Link.” Nbcnews.com
N.P., 17th December, 2014. Web. 16th April, 2015. http://www.nbcnews.com/health/kidshealth/autism-air-pollution-new-study-bolsters-suspected-link-n270331
Raz, Raanan. Roberts, Andrea L. Lyall, Kristen. Hart, Jaime E. Just, Allan C. Laden, Francine. And
Weisskopf, Marc G. “Autism Spectrum Disorder and Particulate Matter Air Pollution before,
during, and after Pregnancy: A Nested Case-Control Analysis within the Nurses’ Health Study
ll Cohort.” Environmental Health Perspective. 123. 3. March 2015: 264-270. Print.
EBSCO. “Air Pollution Control.” Ebscohost.com. EBSCO Publishing Inc. Fall 2013.
Web. 15 April, 2015. https://www.ebscohost.com/resources/sustainability/sustainabilitywatch/samples/AirPollutionControl.pdf
EARTHWORKS “Toxic Release Inventory-What is it?” Earthworksaction.org. N.P. N.D.
Web. 20th April 2015.
http://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/toxic_release_inventory_what_is_it#.VT1all
FOKrv
Maffly, Brian. “Photos Relating to PM2.5” sltribe.com. N.P. 23 December, 2013 Web. 20th April 2015
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/57159228-90/utah-quality-pollution-lake.html.csp
Utah.gov “Image Relating to a Utah Inversion.” Airquality.utah.gov N.P. N.D. Web 20th April, 2015.
http://www.airquality.utah.gov/clean_air/archive/inversion.htm
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Time Science. “Image Relating to PM2.5 Scale.” Breathutah.org. N.P. N.D. Web 20th April, 2015.
http://www.breatheutah.org/action_plan
Jacobsen, Morgan. “Poor air quality puts physical, economic health at risk, Salt Lake City mayor
says” deseretnews.com. Deseret News. 13 January 2014, Web. 22 April, 2015
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865593783/Poor-air-quality-puts-physical-economichealth-at-risk-Salt-Lake-City-mayor-says.html?pg=all