air quality in Utah
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Air quality in Utah is often some of the worst in the United States. Poor air quality in
Utah Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to its ...
is due to the mountainous
topography Topography is the study of the forms and features of land surfaces. The topography of an area may refer to the land forms and features themselves, or a description or depiction in maps. Topography is a field of geoscience and planetary sc ...
which can cause pollutants to build up near the surface (especially during inversions) combined with the prevalence of
emissions Emission may refer to: Chemical products * Emission of air pollutants, notably: **Flue gas, gas exiting to the atmosphere via a flue ** Exhaust gas, flue gas generated by fuel combustion ** Emission of greenhouse gases, which absorb and emit radi ...
from gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles, especially older models. Burning
wood fuel Wood fuel (or fuelwood) is a fuel such as firewood, charcoal, Woodchips, chips, sheets, wood pellets, pellets, and sawdust. The particular form used depends upon factors such as source, quantity, quality and application. In many areas, wood is ...
for home heating can also contribute significantly to poor air quality. Homes heated with wood contribute about 3000 times the amount of pollution as homes heated with
natural gas Natural gas (also called fossil gas or simply gas) is a naturally occurring mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons consisting primarily of methane in addition to various smaller amounts of other higher alkanes. Low levels of trace gases like carbon d ...
. About 50% of air pollution in
Salt Lake County Salt Lake County is located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 1,185,238, making it the most populous county in Utah. Its county seat and largest city is Salt Lake City, the state capital. The cou ...
is from vehicles. In 2017 the
American Lung Association The American Lung Association is a voluntary health organization whose mission is to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. History The organization was founded in 1904 to figh ...
(ALA) ranked Salt Lake City-Provo-Orem area as the 14th worst city for ozone air quality in the U.S. and 8th for worst short-term particle pollution, just after
Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...
.
Logan Logan may refer to: Places * Mount Logan (disambiguation) Australia * Logan (Queensland electoral district), an electoral district in the Queensland Legislative Assembly * Logan, Victoria, small locality near St. Arnaud * Logan City, local gov ...
was ranked the 11th worst city for short-term particle pollution. Of the 12 counties with ozone data from 2014 to 2016, 7 received an "F" grade by the ALA, and 6 of 9 counties monitored received an "F" for particulate pollution. An
MIT The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the m ...
study estimated that over 450 deaths annually in Utah are due to poor air quality. Utah has had mixed responses to poor air quality. For example, from 2015 to 2016 the state offered up to a $1500 credit for clean fuel vehicles However, in 2019 Utah began imposing an additional registration fee on clean fuel vehicles that will increase to $120 annually by 2021.


Inversions and air quality

Due to the mountainous terrain and cold winters, inversions frequently occur in Utah and throughout the
Intermountain West The Intermountain West, or Intermountain Region, is a geographic and geological region of the Western United States. It is located between the front ranges of the Rocky Mountains on the east and the Cascade Range and Sierra Nevada on the wes ...
. While inversions are a natural phenomenon, when coupled with community emissions from gasoline and diesel vehicles, wood fires, industry, and agriculture they can cause unnatural accumulations of hazardous pollutants (especially PM2.5). A typical winter in Salt Lake City has about 6 multi-day inversions that lead to about 18 days of pollution above
National Ambient Air Quality Standard The U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS, pronounced ) are limits on atmospheric concentration of six pollutants that cause smog, acid rain, and other health hazards. Established by the United States Environmental Protection Agenc ...
s. Pollution for inversions can begin to build-up even when the air is clear. To improve air quality, especially during inversions, there are restrictions on burning wood fires with fines starting at $150 for first-time offenses in
Salt Lake County Salt Lake County is located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 1,185,238, making it the most populous county in Utah. Its county seat and largest city is Salt Lake City, the state capital. The cou ...
. Emissions can be reduced by using gasoline and diesel vehicles less by more carpooling and taking public transit, less idling, use of newer vehicles (especially clean fuel vehicles), and combining trips. Less use of gas-powered
snow blower A snow blower or snow thrower is a machine for removing snow from an area where it is problematic, such as a driveway, sidewalk, roadway, railroad track, ice rink, or runway. The commonly used term "snow blower" is a misnomer, as the snow is ...
s,
fireworks Fireworks are a class of low explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. They are most commonly used in fireworks displays (also called a fireworks show or pyrotechnics), combining a large number of devices ...
, gas-powered
lawnmowers A lawn mower (also known as a mower, grass cutter or lawnmower) is a device utilizing one or more revolving blades (or a reel) to cut a grass surface to an even height. The height of the cut grass may be fixed by the design of the mower, but g ...
, and materials with high
volatile organic compound Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic compounds that have a high vapour pressure at room temperature. High vapor pressure correlates with a low boiling point, which relates to the number of the sample's molecules in the surrounding air, a ...
emissions such as certain paints can help keep air clean throughout the year.


Pollutants, sources, and health concerns

Two pollutant measurements of highest concern for health are PM2.5 (or amount of fine
particulates Particulates – also known as atmospheric aerosol particles, atmospheric particulate matter, particulate matter (PM) or suspended particulate matter (SPM) – are microscopic particles of solid or liquid matter suspended in the air. Th ...
with diameters of 2.5
μm The micrometre ( international spelling as used by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures; SI symbol: μm) or micrometer ( American spelling), also commonly known as a micron, is a unit of length in the International System of Uni ...
or less) of and
ozone Ozone (), or trioxygen, is an inorganic molecule with the chemical formula . It is a pale blue gas with a distinctively pungent smell. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic allotrope , breaking down in the l ...
levels. PM2.5 is usually the pollutant of concern in winters in Utah, and ozone is the pollutant of concern in summers. To try and reduce negative health effects of outdoor air quality in Utah, at risk groups (including the young, the elderly, and those who exercise outdoors) are advised to stay indoors. School children in Utah have been kept inside during poor air quality events. Particulates, especially smaller ones such as PM2.5, can enter deep into the
lung The lungs are the primary organs of the respiratory system in humans and most other animals, including some snails and a small number of fish. In mammals and most other vertebrates, two lungs are located near the backbone on either side of ...
s to cause or worsen
respiratory disease Respiratory diseases, or lung diseases, are pathological conditions affecting the organs and tissues that make gas exchange difficult in air-breathing animals. They include conditions of the respiratory tract including the trachea, bronchi, bro ...
issues, and decrease lung function. Particulates can cross into the
blood stream The blood circulatory system is a system of organs that includes the heart, blood vessels, and blood which is circulated throughout the entire body of a human or other vertebrate. It includes the cardiovascular system, or vascular system, tha ...
and cause irregular heartbeats,
heart attacks A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may ...
, and
stroke A stroke is a disease, medical condition in which poor cerebral circulation, blood flow to the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: brain ischemia, ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and intracranial hemorrhage, hemorr ...
s. Particulates can also cross the
blood–brain barrier The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a highly selective semipermeable border of endothelial cells that prevents solutes in the circulating blood from ''non-selectively'' crossing into the extracellular fluid of the central nervous system where ne ...
and cause degenerative brain diseases such as
Dementia Dementia is a disorder which manifests as a set of related symptoms, which usually surfaces when the brain is damaged by injury or disease. The symptoms involve progressive impairments in memory, thinking, and behavior, which negatively affe ...
and
Alzheimer's Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly and progressively worsens. It is the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As t ...
, mental illness, and reduced intelligence. PM2.5 is the largest component of Utah's wintertime pollution. Particulates can be emitted either directly (primary) from sources like
exhaust gas Exhaust gas or flue gas is emitted as a result of the combustion of fuels such as natural gas, gasoline (petrol), diesel fuel, fuel oil, biodiesel blends, or coal. According to the type of engine, it is discharged into the atmosphere through an ...
, wood fires and fireworks, or can form in the atmosphere (secondary) from chemicals emitted from VOCs like fuel and household products (like paints), and gaseous vehicle emissions of NOx. Ozone is helpful to block UV radiation when at high above the ground in the
stratosphere The stratosphere () is the second layer of the atmosphere of the Earth, located above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. The stratosphere is an atmospheric layer composed of stratified temperature layers, with the warm layers of air h ...
. Ozone can damage mucous tissues such as lung linings, as well as vegetation. Ozone can also form from reactions of VOCs or
carbon monoxide Carbon monoxide ( chemical formula CO) is a colorless, poisonous, odorless, tasteless, flammable gas that is slightly less dense than air. Carbon monoxide consists of one carbon atom and one oxygen atom connected by a triple bond. It is the simpl ...
and NOx. Exposure to higher levels of ozone during pregnancy has been linked with an increased risk of stillbirth, infant mortality, and brain disorders. PM2.5 and ozone levels are converted from scientific units (like μg m−3) to
air quality index An air quality index (AQI) is used by government agencies to communicate to the public how polluted the air currently is or how polluted it is forecast to become. AQI information is obtained by averaging readings from an air quality sensor, wh ...
levels. The maximum AQI across a variety of pollutants is often what gets reported. The Utah DEQ publishes AQI levels. Levels are aggregated into groups including "Good," "Moderate" (health concern for particularly sensitive people), "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" (including children, the elderly, and those with existing cardiovascular problems), with higher levels of "Unhealthy", "Very Unhealthy", and "Hazardous" affecting everyone. AQI can be delayed by up to a day compared to current conditions. A Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment study estimated 1,000–2,000 deaths in Utah annually due to poor air quality. An
MIT The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the m ...
study estimated 200,000 premature deaths occur in the U.S. each year as a result of poor air quality, with the most significant contribution from vehicles. The study estimated 461 premature deaths in Utah annually due to high levels of ozone and particulate matter, with vehicle emissions leading to 147 of the deaths annually. By comparison there were 273 deaths due to motor vehicle crashes in Utah in 2017. About 200 Utahans go to the hospital with severe pneumonia due to particulate pollution each year. Emergency room respiratory-related visits in
Salt Lake City Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the capital and most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in Utah. With a population of 200,133 in 2020, th ...
increased by 40% during pollution episodes in 2014.


Wildfires

Wildfires from within the state, the Pacific Northwest, California, Idaho, Nevada, and even Arizona can drastically reduce air quality. In August 2020 smoke drifted in from California fires which caused PM2.5 levels to exceed 90 mg m−3 in
Cache County, Utah Cache County ( ) is a county located in the Wasatch Front region of Utah. As of the 2020 United States Census the population was 133,154. Its county seat and largest city is Logan. Cache County is included in Logan metropolitan area. History ...
, over 2.5 as high as the federal threshold level of 35 mg m−3. Researchers were concerned the poor air quality would worsen symptoms from
COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quick ...
. Air quality in southern Utah was negatively affected by Veyo West and Turkey Farm Road Fires in Washington County as well as fires in Nevada. Smoke from the Bush and Magnum fires in
Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
blew up into Utah in June 2020. In July 2021 high episodes of pollution were caused from the
Bootleg Fire The Bootleg Fire, named after the nearby Bootleg Spring, was a large wildfire that started near Beatty, Oregon, on July 6, 2021. Before being fully contained on 15 August 2021, it had burned . It is the third-largest fire in the history of Oregon ...
in southern
Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
, and the
Beckwourth Complex Fire The Beckwourth Complex was a wildfire complex that burned in the Plumas National Forest in Plumas and Lassen counties. The two major fires of the complex, the Dotta Fire and the Sugar Fire, started on June 30 and July 2 northeast of Beckwourth, ...
in northern
California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
. In
Salt Lake County Salt Lake County is located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 1,185,238, making it the most populous county in Utah. Its county seat and largest city is Salt Lake City, the state capital. The cou ...
pollution levels reached the 'unhealthy category' and even the normally healthy population was at risk for negative health impacts. On August 6 in
Salt Lake City Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the capital and most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in Utah. With a population of 200,133 in 2020, th ...
smoke originating from the Dixie Fire and other fires in west coast states caused the PM2.5 level to spike to over 100 mg m−3, more than 3 times the federal standard. The area temporarily had the worst air quality in the world.


The Great Salt Lake

The
Great Salt Lake The Great Salt Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere and the eighth-largest terminal lake in the world. It lies in the northern part of the U.S. state of Utah and has a substantial impact upon the local climate, particu ...
has been shrinking, exposing more dried lake bed. Researchers are concerned about particulates and
arsenic Arsenic is a chemical element with the symbol As and atomic number 33. Arsenic occurs in many minerals, usually in combination with sulfur and metals, but also as a pure elemental crystal. Arsenic is a metalloid. It has various allotropes, b ...
blowing off the lake into urban areas.


Research


Air quality monitoring

Various organizations monitor the air quality in Utah. The Utah Division of Air Quality has been monitoring air quality indicators since 1999 with the Utah Air Monitoring Network.
University of Utah The University of Utah (U of U, UofU, or simply The U) is a public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the flagship institution of the Utah System of Higher Education. The university was established in 1850 as the University of De ...
scientists have installed monitors on Trax cars on the Red and
Green Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495570 nm. In subtractive color systems, used in painting and color printing, it is created by a combin ...
lines in 2015. Though not unique to Utah, Purple Air monitoring network provides particulate levels in real time. Unlike other networks, Purple Air sensors can be purchased and installed by anyone. Measurement campaigns focused on Utah air quality have brought in international researchers. In 2017 the Utah Winter Fine Particulate Study (UWFPS) involved intensive studies from the air and ground of particulates and their formation in northern Utah basins in winter. Researchers were from
NOAA The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (abbreviated as NOAA ) is an United States scientific and regulatory agency within the United States Department of Commerce that forecasts weather, monitors oceanic and atmospheric conditio ...
ESRL, the Utah Division of Air Quality, the
University of Utah The University of Utah (U of U, UofU, or simply The U) is a public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the flagship institution of the Utah System of Higher Education. The university was established in 1850 as the University of De ...
,
University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution ...
,
University of Washington The University of Washington (UW, simply Washington, or informally U-Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1861, Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast; it was established in Seatt ...
, and
USDA The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food. It aims to meet the needs of comme ...
.


Epidemiology

Some of the most recognized globally recognized
epidemiological Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution (who, when, and where), patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population. It is a cornerstone of public health, and shapes policy decisions and evid ...
studies of air quality on human health have been performed in Utah. BYU professor Arden Pope has been researching health and air quality for over 30 years. Pope's research began by using changes in emissions from the
Geneva Steel Geneva Steel was a steel mill located in Vineyard, Utah, United States, founded during World War II to enhance national steel output. It operated from December 1944 to November 2001. Its unique name came from a resort that once operated nearby ...
plant in
Utah Valley Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to its ...
in a
natural experiment A natural experiment is an empirical study in which individuals (or clusters of individuals) are exposed to the experimental and control conditions that are determined by nature or by other factors outside the control of the investigators. The pro ...
. Pope noted an "astonishing" difference in admissions for
pediatric Pediatrics ( also spelled ''paediatrics'' or ''pædiatrics'') is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. In the United Kingdom, paediatrics covers many of their youth until the ...
respiratory hospital admissions when the plant was not operating. A 2016 study linked poor air quality with
blood vessel The blood vessels are the components of the circulatory system that transport blood throughout the human body. These vessels transport blood cells, nutrients, and oxygen to the tissues of the body. They also take waste and carbon dioxide awa ...
damage in BYU students. An analysis by the '' Salt Lake Tribune'' noted increased school absences along the
Wasatch Front The Wasatch Front is a metropolitan region in the north-central part of the U.S. state of Utah. It consists of a chain of contiguous cities and towns stretched along the Wasatch Range from approximately Provo in the south to Logan in the nort ...
during air pollution episodes in Utah, though additional research is needed to determine whether or not absences were due to other coinciding incidents. Life expectancy increased by about 3 years from 1980 to 2000 and 5 months of that were attributed to better air quality by Pope.


Legislation

Legislation in Utah in response to poor air quality has been mixed, with some laws and ordinances expected to help, and others expected to worsen air quality. The Governor's FY 2020 budget by
Gary Herbert Gary Richard Herbert (born May 7, 1947) is an American politician who served as the 17th Governor of Utah from 2009 to 2021. A member of the Republican Party, he chaired the National Governors Association during the 2015–2016 cycle. Herbert wo ...
recommended $100 million for air quality improvements. Only $29 million was spent on air quality initiatives, but it was more than the typical $2 million. Previously a credit up to $1500 was offered for purchasing clean air vehicles. However, in 2018 SB136 was controversially signed into law by
Gary Herbert Gary Richard Herbert (born May 7, 1947) is an American politician who served as the 17th Governor of Utah from 2009 to 2021. A member of the Republican Party, he chaired the National Governors Association during the 2015–2016 cycle. Herbert wo ...
. The law, which was sponsored by Wayne Harper and Mike Schultz, implements an additional annual registration fee of up to $120 on clean air vehicles by the year 2020. The additional fees were opposed by air quality advocates such as the nonprofits Breathe Utah, and Utah Clean Energy which has stated the fees are misguided. Clean air advocates have voiced concerns that the additional fees will slow electric vehicle adoption in Utah and promote poorer air quality. Gasoline vehicles are the main source of pollution in Utah. In 2022 HB 186 sponsored by Harper and
Raymond Ward Raymond P. Ward is an American politician and physician serving as a member of the Utah House of Representatives from the 19th district. Elected in November 2014, he assumed office on January 1, 2015. Education Ward earned a Bachelor of Scien ...
was signed into law by Spencer Cox which will further increase electric vehicle fees to $240 by 2032. On January 1, 2017 most
oil refineries An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where petroleum (crude oil) is transformed and refined into useful products such as gasoline (petrol), diesel fuel, asphalt base, fuel oils, heating oil, kerosene, li ...
in the U.S. were required to start meeting
Environmental Protection Agency A biophysical environment is a biotic and abiotic surrounding of an organism or population, and consequently includes the factors that have an influence in their survival, development, and evolution. A biophysical environment can vary in scale ...
rules for Tier 3 fuels which would reduce NOX, VOC, and
sulfur Sulfur (or sulphur in British English) is a chemical element with the symbol S and atomic number 16. It is abundant, multivalent and nonmetallic. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with a chemical formul ...
emissions. Due to their smaller size, the five refineries in Utah were exempt from the EPA requirement, and the state of Utah allowed the exemption. The Silver Eagle refinery voluntarily met the requirement in 2018, and
Andeavor Tesoro Corporation, known briefly as Andeavor, was a Fortune 100 and a Fortune Global 500 company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, with 2017 annual revenues of $35 billion, and over 14,000 employees worldwide. Based on 2017 revenue, the c ...
and
Chevron Chevron (often relating to V-shaped patterns) may refer to: Science and technology * Chevron (aerospace), sawtooth patterns on some jet engines * Chevron (anatomy), a bone * '' Eulithis testata'', a moth * Chevron (geology), a fold in rock la ...
voluntarily committed to meet the standard by January 1, 2020.
Holly ''Ilex'' (), or holly, is a genus of over 570 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only living genus in that family. ''Ilex'' has the most species of any woody dioecious angiosperm genus. The species are evergreen o ...
and Big West (a subsidiary of
FJ Management :''This is about the legacy Flying J Inc., which remains in operation as FJ Management Inc. For the current truck stop chain, see Pilot Flying J.'' FJ Management Inc.,http://www.flyingj.com/flyingjPortalWebProject/flyingjPortal.portal?_nfpb=true&_ ...
) have not made commitments to meet the standard early. Utah lawmakers passed tax breaks of $2M per year for the refineries to meet the requirements early. Utah has been opposed to allowing
California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
to set higher standards for
fuel efficiency Fuel efficiency is a form of thermal efficiency, meaning the ratio of effort to result of a process that converts chemical potential energy contained in a carrier (fuel) into kinetic energy or work. Overall fuel efficiency may vary per device ...
and for reduced emissions for higher standards of air quality than the federal government. Utah legislators Stephen Handy and
Suzanne Harrison Suzanne Harrison is an American politician and physician who served as a member of the Utah House of Representatives for the 32nd district from 2019 to 2022. She was elected to the Salt Lake County Council in November 2022 and assumed office in ...
have spoken out against the rollback of fuel standards by the
Trump administration Donald Trump's tenure as the List of presidents of the United States, 45th president of the United States began with Inauguration of Donald Trump, his inauguration on January 20, 2017, and ended on January 20, 2021. Trump, a Republican Party ...
, citing negative effects of air pollution in Utah on health. Utah senator
Mitt Romney Willard Mitt Romney (born March 12, 1947) is an American politician, businessman, and lawyer serving as the junior United States senator from Utah since January 2019, succeeding Orrin Hatch. He served as the 70th governor of Massachusetts ...
has voiced support for greater efficiency standards without supporting the higher standards set by California. In 2019 he voiced support for continued use of all energy sources including higher polluting sources such as burning coal. Anti-idling ordinances were passed in Salt Lake City in 2011 with fines of up to $210 for idling for more than 2 minutes. As of 2018, seventy-one cities encouraged idle-free behavior. The laws have led to few citations, but supporters celebrate them for making idling gasoline and diesel vehicles socially unacceptable. The Utah Indoor Clean Air Act is a statewide
smoking ban Smoking bans, or smoke-free laws, are public policies, including criminal laws and occupational safety and health regulations, that prohibit tobacco smoking in certain spaces. The spaces most commonly affected by smoking bans are indoor workpl ...
, that prohibits smoking in many public places.


See also

*
Air pollution in the United States Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials into the atmosphere, causing harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or damaging ecosystems. Air pollution can cause health problems in ...
* Utah Inland Port


External links


''Utah DEQ''

''AirNow Fire and Smoke Map''

''NASA Fire Information for Resource Management Systems visualizer''
- select VIIRS or MODIS background option for recent satellite imagery


''NOAA GOES Image Viewer''
- Visualizer of recent imagery from GOES West weather satellite


References

{{Reflist Environment of Utah Air pollution in the United States