Residents on the west side of Salt Lake Valley describe the air they breathe as gritty, smelly, and sometimes even taste it. The polluted air has lasting health impacts, and experts attribute the poor air quality to factors such as highways, industries, rail lines, and redlining practices. The University of Utah has conducted studies linking air pollution to pregnancy loss in the area. Residents have made changes to their lifestyles to mitigate the effects of bad air, but worry about the long-term consequences. The west side’s air quality problems have historical roots and are exacerbated by the lack of trees and regional sources of pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency has confirmed that the west side has worse air quality, higher health risks, and a lower quality of life. Efforts are being made to improve the situation, such as adding trees and building regional parks, but the west side still lags behind the east side in terms of air quality. Saige Miller,Alixel Cabrera | Salt Lake Tribune reported
Residents on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley have vivid descriptions of the air they breathe, with some even claiming that they can taste it. The air is gritty in their mouth, and they can smell an odor that they can’t seem to escape. They can also feel the air trapped in their lungs, a sensation that can only be relieved by using an inhaler. Some days, it’s like walking through a ball of cotton, and many people choose to stay indoors when the mountains that surround them disappear behind a thick cloak of pollution.
The effects of this polluted air on their health are long-lasting, and the residents of the west side bear the brunt of it. The Salt Lake Tribune and KUER have collaborated on a multimedia series called Reaching for Air, which explores these air quality issues. Through interviews with dozens of west-siders, the series aims to give voice to their experiences and shed light on the dangers of living in an area where pollution levels can reach dangerously unhealthy levels.
One resident, Marianne Wilson, has lived in the west-side neighborhood for over 17 years. It wasn’t until she lost a pregnancy in 2010 that she fully realized the severity of the area’s pollution problem. After her pregnancy loss, the University of Utah reached out to her because they were conducting a study on the link between air quality and pregnancy loss in the area. Wilson’s experience is just one example of how the polluted air on the west side can have devastating effects on residents’ health.
Experts attribute the worse air quality on the west side to several factors, including the interstate highways, industries, rail lines, and the heavy-duty diesel vehicles that operate in and around the area. The University of Utah study also found that redlining, a discriminatory practice that placed minority populations on the west side, has contributed to the concentration of polluting sources in the area. Despite the practice being made illegal in 1968, the aftereffects still linger and disproportionately affect the mostly-white population of the west side.
As a result of the health risks associated with the bad air, residents like Marianne Wilson have had to make significant changes to their lives. Wilson limits her children’s outdoor playtime and avoids using her car for errands. Even when she goes on hikes, she chooses less strenuous routes to minimize her exposure to pollution. However, it’s disheartening for her to see more projects, such as the Utah Inland Port and the possible widening of Interstate 15, that would likely bring even more pollution to their homes.
Logan Mitchell, a climate scientist who has researched Utah’s air pollution history, highlights that the air quality issues on the west side are a long-term problem. Many of the decisions that led to the current situation were made over a century ago and continue to impact residents today. Mitchell emphasizes the importance of considering the long-term impacts of new industrial facilities and infrastructure on air quality for the next several decades.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s assessment confirms what west-side residents already know: their air is worse, their health risks are higher, and their quality of life is poorer compared to other parts of Salt Lake City. The concentration of emission sources, including highways, the airport, industries, rail lines, and warehouses, contribute to the poor air quality in the area. On days with stagnant events like inversions, the pollution becomes even more prominent, making residents feel like human filters for the concentration of pollutants.
While efforts are being made to improve the situation, such as adding trees and building a regional park on the west side, it still lags behind the east side in terms of green spaces and air quality mitigation measures. This imbalance means that pollution from sources like the Great Salt Lake and wildfires affects the west side more severely.
The history of the west side being designated as an industrial hub dates back to the late 19th century. Officials at that time mistakenly believed that the Jordan River would protect the east side from air pollution, leading them to place industrial facilities on the west side. Unfortunately, this decision has had long-lasting consequences for the air quality in the area.
Residents like Gary Sapp, a long-time resident of West Valley City, have witnessed the decline in air quality over the years. Sapp recalls periods in the past when the air was so bad that visibility was reduced to just a few feet. The summer haze is no different, and residents are constantly exposed to poor air quality.
In conclusion, the residents on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley bear the brunt of the area’s poor air quality. The effects on their health are significant and long-lasting. Efforts are being made to address the issue, but more needs to be done to improve air quality and protect the well-being of west-side residents..