Utah Air Quality: A Student Perspective

In January the air quality in Utah was the worst in nation. The answer that we have been receiving from state officials and others in our state is simply wait for the next storm. Waiting for the next storm is not an answer we as citizens deserve or need. Air quality not only effects the look of our valley but the health and well being of the citizens of our state. Air quality effects our health in some major areas: our respiratory system, our cardiovascular system are the main areas hit.

Respiratory System: Not only does the air quality effect our oxygen levels we breathe in but while the air quality is poor we are breathing in major pollutants to our body. The lungs themselves are designed to bring in enormous amounts of air and deliver the contents directly to the blood system. Thus those same pollutants that we are breathing in are delivered into our blood and dispersed to our vital organs. Studies have been shown that breathing in air pollution over an extended period of time creates very similar effects to that of second hand smoke.

Cardiovascular: The cardiovascular system is made up of two distinct parts the heart and the network of blood vessels. As stated earlier when we breathe in poor air those pollutants are delivered to the blood stream which then is delivered to the heart. Exposure of the heart to these chemicals can produce some very serious conditions such as effecting the heart rhythm.

While these two systems are effected in a large way on a wide basis some specific effects have been attributed to poor air quality. Asthma is directly worsened in higher pollution cities and cases are also twice as likely to happen in such cities.
Premature births are also higher in cities with high air pollution.

Now not all of the news is bad, while our state is set up to have a higher pollution than others there are major things that we can do to improve the quality of our air. First and foremost is to make people aware and make it a priority in their lives. There are simple steps that we as citizens can take to name a couple: more fuel efficient stoves such as wood pellet stoves which can be used on a red burn day. Many citizens in our state are still using wood burning stoves that put our high pollution. Overall efficient appliances will help improve our air quality. With the increasing population on the west side our mass transit needs to extend to reach those people.

We as citizens need to let our leaders and other know that we are not ok with the air quality of this state and are expecting a change, and show a willingness on our part to change our air quality.