You breathe death into your lungs every day. This “death” is the particles floating in the air at ground level. They shorten the average Utahn’s life by two years, and the air quality causes 2,500 to 8,000 premature deaths each year.
These particles are called ozone and PM2.5 particulates. Ozone is caused by fossil fuel fumes reacting chemically which then fall to the ground. PM2.5 particulates are from the combustion of gasoline, oil and wood.
Some people are already trying to do small things, like carpooling, walking or turning off lights when no one is in the room, but not enough people are doing those practices.
We all need to try harder to take simple action that will improve our air. If we don’t, surely the situation will get worse and worse until going outside will be dangerous. We have a chance to change things, so let’s take it.
Helen Hardy, age 12, Draper