Beware of the Air You Breathe

By Dennis Marquez

An Evaluation on “The Air We Breathe“This is a power-point evaluating the research report “The Air we Breathe” by the Utah Foundation an organization determined to make a positive impact on Utah’s livelihood. The research report “The Air We Breathe” discusses the history of Utah’s air quality throughout the past 15 years, it reports on all counties of Utah and whether or not they are within federal compliance. I am reviewing and summarizing the research, then comparing it to how the air quality of Utah is today.

An Evaluation on “The Air We Breathe“

Using the same website today I got the results:If you live in Salt Lake County, the air you breathe may put your health at risk.Ozone: FParticle Pollution 24hr: F Seems like Utah valley has somewhat of a poor air quality still going on today.

One of the sources used by the research paper is a website called http://www.stateoftheair.org to look up the current grade of air quality in Utah at the time the research paper was made it was very low.

An Evaluation on “The Air We Breathe“

In some case prolonged exposure may lead to symptoms that can go unnoticed.• increases the risk of heart attacks• arrhythmias and strokes • cause chest pain • Palpitations • shortness of breath• fatigue.

There are adverse health effects like:• decreased pulmonary function• asthma exacerbations• Increased hospital and

emergency department visits• increased mortality

An Evaluation on “The Air We Breathe“

Individual Actions • Increase transit usage • Drive zero-emission vehicles • Drive newer vehicles • Maintain vehicle emissions systems • Carpool Reduce idling Chain trips (to reduce

vehicle cold starts) • Telecommute on bad air days • Do not use wood (and solid fuel) on no-burn days • Buy low-VOC consumer products Install solar

power and hot water systems • Lower thermostats • Update home heating systems

The research paper discusses ways of possibly reducing pollution and gives examples that anyone can easily begin to employ on a daily basis. Here are some examples to the right side of the slide, some are easier than others but every little bit counts. Below is an index about air quality

An Evaluation on “The Air We Breathe“In a survey conducted back in the 2012 on voters during elections, Voters declared that Air pollution was considered one of the most important topics of the year right behind Gas prices. With a grade as low as an F who wouldn’t be concerned with the quality of air? Today, Air pollution is still a big concern in the state, while many registered voters agree there is an issue with air quality, thanks to a survey by utahpolicy.com, Utahns are separated as to what they believe is causing the most air pollution

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Conclusion

This research report looks to have been prepared quite thoroughly, on an issue that certainly needs our attention and certainly needs to gain the attention of those able enact policies to better improve our air quality.Going up to the mountains and breathing the air there and then returning down to the city you call tell the difference in quality, even though most of the time the air looks similar to the background picture, the smell of the air in two different places shows that something needs to be done.The people of Utah have made it clear that this is an issue that we are concerned about and need action taken, hopefully this is something that can be brought up during our next elections.

Works Cited

• Images• https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Salt_Lake_City_-_July_16,_2011.jpg

• Music• Clubbed to Death by Rob Dugan

• Sources• Teigen Shawn, “The Air We Breathe A Broad analysis of Utah Air Quality and Policy Solutions”, Utah

Foundation. Web. January 2014. Web.• American Lung Association, “State of the Air, 2013,” http://www.stateoftheair.org (accessed January 12,

2014).• Utah Foundation, “The 2012 Utah Priorities Survey: The Top Issues and Concerns of Utah Voters for the 2012

Election,” report # 706, March 2012.• Utah Division of Air Quality 2012 Annual Report• 42 EPA, National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone, Final Rule, UTAH FOUNDATION January 2014 17

http://www.epa.gov/glo/pdfs/201107_OMBdraft-OzoneRIA.pdf (accessed September 23, 2013).• Schott Bryan, “Poll: Utahns Oppose November Through March Wood Burning Ban”. Utahpolicy.com. Web

February 2015. Web.