Scientific evidence shows Utah’s air pollution is deadly. The WHO reported this is the most important environmental cause of cancer. In 2020 Atmosphere Journal’s article “Historic and Modern Air Pollution Studies Conducted in Utah” reported, even with Utah’s low incidence of tobacco users, poor air quality contributed to increased risk of lung cancer, poor pregnancy outcomes and other adverse health effects. Dr. Varghese of the Huntsman Center reported Utah had the highest incidence of nonsmoker lung cancer nationally.
How is it that the EPA and Utah want to weaken air quality regulations? Recently Gov. Herbert announced Salt Lake City had met air quality standards for fine particulate pollution, whereas EPA’s most recent data found Salt Lake City air quality was 7th worst nationally for large metro areas.
If our air is judged by experts to be dangerous now, what can we expect when thousands of trucks are entering and exiting the proposed Utah Inland Port daily? BYU and the University of Utah reported current air pollution accounts for more than 2,500 premature deaths and yearly economic losses between $750 million to $3.3 billion.
Why are they willing to allow this destructive health risk to continue and get worse?
Susan Corth, Salt Lake City