Each year, the American Lung Association releases a "State of the Air" report. In 2015's edition, Salt Lake City was ranked as 7th-most polluted in the nation in short-term particle pollution.
This does not come to a surprise for Utahans. Utah has numerous "red days" each year, which indicates an alarming level of air pollution. On red days, even committed cyclists choose to avoid physical activity, as it can be very dangerous to deeply breathe such dirty air. Even though Utahans smoke fewer cigarettes than almost any other state in the country, some physicians compare one "red" air day to smoking a half of a pack of cigarettes.
In addition to all of the damage dirty air does to the lungs, pollution causes blood pressure to increase within minutes. It also increases immediate likelihood of stroke or heart attack. Some estimates even suggest that the Wasatch Valley's poor air shortens the life of those living in it by an average of two full years.
Since 1963, the Clean Air Act has helped regulate and enforce air pollution throughout the country. Once the EPA determines that a state is not meeting air quality standards, that state has a period of time to clean it up. The EPA assists in this process by helping states develop a plan to combat dirty, unhealthy air. In the case of Utah, however, despite years of failing to meet air quality standards, the EPA has also failed to meet its deadline to review Utah's air pollution plan. Each day of polluted air damages the health of children, the elderly, and other already vulnerable populations.
Utah's air quality is, quite simply, a public health crisis. It is time the EPA meet its own statutory guidelines and review Utah's new plan for cleaning up the air. The longer the EPA waits, the longer the state of Utah can continue to pollute and delay plans for action. Sign here to demand action.
