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Logan King

Jackie Burr, Instructor

English 2010

17 April 2018

What Are We Breathing?

Utah, world’s greatest snow, but also some of the worst air to breathe. As of 2017, Salt

Lake City, the capital of Utah, has been ranked as the worst air quality in the nation. Taking the

crown from Los Angeles was a feat that no one was wanting. Especially in the winter months

residents find themselves trudging through the ghoulish “fog” each and every day. The problem

is that “fog” is really air pollution; sometimes called inversion, but air pollution in the more

commonly known term. The dense polluted air causes the people to maybe see 100 yards in front

of them. Drivers take onto themselves an immense amount of risk every time they hit the roads.

Imagine a drive through winding roads where one could hopefully see the others’ headlights or

taillights with enough time to slow down and adjust if needed. Many believe that Utah is heading

the direction that China had been; where it was horribly unwise to leave the house without a

respirator. Utah’s pollution can quickly and seamlessly harm your body, there are horrible

long-term effects, and is primarily caused by industries and companies.

These particles, sizing less than a grain of sand, are what is best guessed to be causing the

massive number of individuals suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder or

COPD. COPD generalizes the progressive states of problems such as asthma, chronic bronchitis,

and emphysema. All of which include a tightness in the chest and difficulty breathing. The
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inhaled particles may block and damage the oxygen converting alveoli in the lungs. (Markosian)

Many people, especially children, are being admitted to the Emergency Room every year.​These

tiny particles obstruct respiratory processes with ease. There are thousands of programs to reduce

pollutants but people are still breathing in this harmful air at all times.

“​In 2008, an estimated 153,175 adults in Utah had asthma. Adult lifetime asthma

prevalence was 13.1% and adult current asthma prevalence was ​8.4%​ compared with U.S. rates

of 13.3% and ​8.5%​, respectively. In 2008, an estimated 52,175 children in Utah had asthma.”

(CDC) Imagine what it would be like for these individuals to try to breathe in the deep smog.

The average person would have a coughing fit if they participated in any type of exertion

outdoors with the air as it is.

As National Geographic states about the consequences of such air pollution. “Short-term

effects, which are temporary, include illnesses such as pneumonia or bronchitis. They also

include discomfort such as irritation to the nose, throat, eyes, or skin. Air pollution can also

cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Long-term effects of air pollution can last for years or

for an entire lifetime. They can even lead to a person's death. Long-term health effects from air

pollution include heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases such as emphysema.”

(National Geographic)

These particles, sizing less than a grain of sand, are what is best guessed to be causing the

massive number of individuals suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder or

COPD. COPD generalizes the progressive states of problems such as asthma, chronic bronchitis,

and emphysema. All of which include a tightness in the chest and difficulty breathing. The

inhaled particles may block and damage the oxygen converting alveoli in the lungs. (Markosian)
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But there are many more consequences than a tight chest. An insufficient intake of

oxygen and the poor quality thereof can cause major problems in the circulatory system. The

processes inside the lungs bring oxygen-rich blood into the bloodstream to supply vital organs

and other body functions.

The lack of proper oxygen in the blood is a major cause of problems such as

hypertension, arrhythmia, heart failure, ischemic stroke, and atherosclerosis. All of which

deprive the heart of basic needs and can sometimes lead to death. The list of resulting situations

does not end at the heart; Poor air quality can lead to renal disease, loss of brain function, birth

defects, urinary changes, and many more. Our bodies need oxygen to function.

Everyone knows that people need oxygen, but not enough people fight for the quality of

that air. Breathing, the simplest of things done once we are born; now being jeopardized due to

the suffocating situation all are in.

For this paper the writer has had the personal privilege of being able to interview Greg

King, a professional truck driver. Who would drive thousands, even hundreds of thousands of

miles all over Utah. A man who one would believe would be a professional in the field of air

pollution due to his own personal experience.

When questioned about how he personally felt about the current status of the air quality

he responded with, “I think it’s disgusting and shameful.” He went on to talk about how so much

of the horrendous conditions could be prevented, but much of what could be done won’t be due

to “greed.”
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Asking what he believes to be the main cause of the air pollution for Salt Lake valley and

Utah overall he responded with the Kennecott/Rio Tinto mine. Along with the number of

different factories and refineries spotting Utah.

When the interviewer informed King of the main speculated cause is the usage of cars

and other motor transportation, estimated at roughly 40%, he said that he definitely thinks there

are far too many cars out on the highways; cars are not the only problem, the scapegoat using his

words. King states that people try to blame the situation of the air on a vast majority of things.

Including wood burning. Which would release Carbon Dioxide which is not the object of

scrutiny at the moment. There are different kinds of exhaust emissions.

When asked about the personal experience and the feeling of physicality with the air

King told the interviewer many things about it. “It tastes bad. Walking out you can taste the

dirtiness. I can see it. It’s grey, which people wrongly call it fog. Which we get in the valley

anyway, but it’s grey and just stinks.” Being questioned about physical ramifications from the air

quality he said that for the past two years around the same time of year he gets laryngitis. An

inflammation of the larynx causing intense coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. A

condition he has no experience with prior. Each time lasting for a few weeks until finally

subsiding. He luckily has not noticed any effects on blood pressure and heart condition.

To understand a bit better, the interviewer asked about specific things King has noticed

over the years that causes intense worries about our situation. While driving, he would see

frequently are signs on the freeways displaying, “Poor air quality today. Please carpool.” As a

driver that worries him. To display such a thing shows that the air is not something to be nodded

away. There are also several times a year, a few this year even, that King says that he received
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warnings that elderly and children should avoid being outdoors. And all should avoid all outside

exertion.

King also believes that 20 or so years from now we may all need gas masks to go

outside--which is what happened in places like China.

Which, in part, has already happened.

On January 31, 2017 Salt Lake City’s pm2.5 levels

(air pollutants sizing 2.5 macrometers or less) reached 59.5

taking the crown for the worst air in the United States.

(Neugebauer) Shanghai, which used to be the worst air

quality in China, measured at 60 in 2012 and reduced to 48

in 2017. (“Air Pollution in Shanghai”) Luckily, Utah’s

levels do not compete with Beijing which has been over 60

for years.

The reason why China has reduced their pollutant

levels dramatically is due to their efforts to limit industries.

China has millions of cars, but as soon as they put better

restrictions on the industries air pollution began dropping.

While cars do make up a large portion of Utah’s pollution, the Kennecott/Rio Tinto mine

releases 249 million pounds of toxic particles into the air we breathe. One third of Salt Lake

county’s air pollution. (Klaus and Mayhew)

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Works Cited

"Utah's Annual Air Quality Is in EPA Compliance." ​Standard-Examiner (Ogden, UT)​, 20 Dec.

2014. EBSCO​host​,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=n5h&AN=2W630060359&site=ehost-live.

King, Greg. ​Personal interview. ​12 Apr. 2018

Markosian, Richard. “Air Pollution in Utah.” ​Utah Stories​, 22 Feb. 2016,

utahstories.com/2014/01/air-pollution-in-utah/.

Mayhew, Marion Klaus And Dan. “Kennecott Causes One-Third of Air Pollution.” ​The

Salt Lake Tribune​, 9 Feb. 2012,

archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=53600999&itype=CMSID.

National Geographic Society. “Air Pollution.” ​National Geographic Society​, 9 Oct. 2012,

​www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/air-pollution/​.

Neugebauer, Cimaron. “Salt Lake City Has the Worst Air Quality in the Nation.” KUTV,

kutv.com/news/local/salt-lake-city-has-the-worst-air-quality-in-the-nation.

Penrod, Emma. “Environmental risk is on the rise in Utah, but most emissions come

from a single source.” ​The Salt Lake Tribune​. The Salt Lake Tribune, 22

November 2017. Web. 10 December 2017.

Pope III, C. Arden, et al. "Particulate Air Pollution and Daily Mortality on Utah's Wasatch

Front." Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 107, no. 7, July 1999, pp.

567-573. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=8gh&AN=2165189&site=ehost-live.
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Soukup, Joleen M., et al. "Soluble Components of Utah Valley Particulate Pollution Alter

Alveolar Macrophage Function in Vivo and in Vitro." ​Inhalation Toxicology​,

vol.12, no. 5, May 2000, pp. 401-414. EBSCO​host​,

doi:10.1080/089583700196112.

"Utah's Annual Air Quality Is in EPA Compliance." ​Standard-Examiner (Ogden, UT)​, 20 Dec.

2014. EBSCO​host​,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=n5h&AN=2W630060359&site=ehost-live.