Air quality in Utah
[1][2] Poor air quality in Utah is due to the mountainous topography which can cause pollutants to build up near the surface (especially during inversions[2]) combined with the prevalence of emissions from gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles, especially older models.
[3][4] Burning wood fuel for home heating can also contribute significantly to poor air quality.
[9] Due to the mountainous terrain and cold winters, inversions frequently occur in Utah and throughout the Intermountain West.
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).
[10][11][12] 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 Standards.
[10] 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.
Two pollutant measurements of highest concern for health are PM2.5 (or amount of fine particulates with diameters of 2.5 μm or less) of and ozone levels.
[18] Particulates can also cross the blood–brain barrier and cause degenerative brain diseases such as Dementia and Alzheimer's, mental illness, and reduced intelligence.
Exposure to higher levels of ozone during pregnancy has been linked with an increased risk of stillbirth, infant mortality, and brain disorders.
[25] An MIT 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.
[29] Wildfires from within the state, the Pacific Northwest, California, Idaho, Nevada, and even Arizona can drastically reduce air quality.
[33][34] In Salt Lake County pollution levels reached the 'unhealthy category' and even the normally healthy population was at risk for negative health impacts.
[45] Pope's research began by using changes in emissions from the Geneva Steel plant in Utah Valley in a natural experiment.
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.
[10][55] In 2022 HB 186 sponsored by Harper and Raymond Ward was signed into law by Spencer Cox which will further increase electric vehicle fees to $240 by 2032.
[56] On January 1, 2017 most oil refineries in the U.S. were required to start meeting Environmental Protection Agency rules for Tier 3 fuels which would reduce NOX, VOC, and sulfur emissions.
[22][57] Holly and Big West (a subsidiary of FJ Management) have not made commitments to meet the standard early.
[62] The laws have led to few citations, but supporters celebrate them for making idling gasoline and diesel vehicles socially unacceptable.
