Running head: SALT LAKE, UTAH INTERVENTION

Salt Lake City, Utah Community: Poor Air Quality Intervention

Shauna Herrmann & Jentry Nielsen
Dixie State University

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Salt Lake City, Utah Community: Poor Air Quality Intervention

The heart of Utah, Salt Lake City, was researched and observed for this community
project, specifically downtown Salt Lake City. The researchers and writers of this paper
identified poor air quality to be a major health problem in downtown Salt Lake. According to the
Utah Health Department (2014) poor air quality can result in adverse birth outcomes, asthma,
COPD, heart disease, and heart attacks.
The initiative has come about from an assessment of Salt Lake City. This paper will
outline the findings of the community assessment, identify the problem, and discuss the
intervention used to meet the goal.
Community Assessment and Analysis
The following assessment is based on information used to formulate a problem, goal, and
intervention, gathered through websites and windshield survey about Salt Lake City, Utah, a
population/geographical based area of air quality concern. The target population is also discussed
in this section.
Community Assessment
As of 2013, according to the United States Census Bureau, Salt Lake City, Utah had an
estimated population of 191,180. In 2010, 7.8% of people were under 5, 22.5% under 18 years
old, and 9.4% 65 or older. 48.7% of the Salt Lake City population was female in 2010. From
2008 to 2012 there were 74,688 households and 2.44 people per household (United States
Census Bureau, 2014).
Some geographical information includes Salt Lake Citys elevation to be 4,330 feet above
sea level. Average temperatures for Salt Lake in January are 36.4 F, winters being cold and
snow remaining on the ground throughout most of the season. Summers are typically hot and

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dry, with the average temperature being 92.2 F in July. The annual average temperature in Salt
Lake is 51.8 F with the average precipitation being 15.7 inches. The Spring season, especially
March, brings in heavy rain and high winds (Geography of Salt Lake City, 2014).
Salt Lake City has a diverse population of beliefs; however, it is slightly more
Republican. The State Capitol resides in Salt Lake City, governed by governor Herbert, Lt.
Governor, Attorney General, Treasurer, and State Auditor, as well as Legislative members. City
of Salt Lake officials include Mayor Becker, city council of seven. They meet three times a
month to talk about public/city needs (City-Data, n.d).
Education is important in Utah. There are 26 public elementary schools in the Salt Lake
City school district, 5 middle schools, and 5 high schools. The Salt Lake City school district is
now a minority majority district, this means there are more ethnic minority students than
Caucasian students. There are also 3 great community learning center (CLC) schools. In CLC
schools young people, their families, and the communities residents work together as equal
partners with the school and other community service providers to develop programs and
enhance services in areas such as: quality education, personal development, family support,
family and community engagement, and community development (Your Best Choice-Salt Lake
City School District, 2104).
Salt Lake provides in-city transportation: Trax, UTA bus, and Frontrunner. However, the
majority of people drive a car alone, followed by carpooling, bus, bike, and walking. Airports
used are Salt Lake City International Airport, and the South Valley Regional Airport, and 12
Heliports. People come and go using highways such as Interstate-15, Interstate-80, Highway 215,
and main roads throughout the city (City-Data, n.d).

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The assessment data gathered relates to the need for cleaner air and what resources are
available to make changes in Salt Lake City.
Target Population.
The focus of the researchers target population included the residents of Salt Lake City,
specifically those who are young, old, asthmatic, diabetic, heart diseased, or longtime outdoor
athletes. While we know poor air quality affects all those who are residents and exposed to the
air pollution, yet it has been shown to have more of a negative impact to the young, old, and
those whose immune systems are compromised.
Public Health Issue & Perceptions.
The outdoors are one of Utahs most valued qualities. Salt Lake City today has 126
individual parks and 58 municipal playgrounds all on 925 acres. There are always a number of
activities going on in any one of Salt Lake Citys parks, such as sporting events, marathons, and
farmers markets. Salt Lake also has numerous amounts of recreational centers that include fitness
classes, ice skating rinks, swimming pools, and community sporting leagues. The majority of
people drive a car alone, followed by carpooling, bus, bike, and walking (Welcome to Salt Lake
City, n.d). Due to the large amount of outdoor use, the people of Salt Lake City are at risk for
health complications due to hazardous air quality.
Not only in Utah, but a study conducted in China noted an increased mortality rate of
individuals during the colder months of June- January than the months of February to July due to
ambient air pollution (Fengying, Liping, Krafft, et al, 2014). The seasonal air pollution in this
study is similar to the situation in Utah.
The researchers of this paper interviewed Donna Spangler, a Utah Division of Air Quality
representative. The interview went as follows:

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What is your role and responsibilities in the air quality aspect of

environmental health? The Division of Air Quality mandates under the
clean air act to make sure the air quality meets ambient air quality
standards. It also must be aligned with the ETA air quality standard of 2.5
PM.
What are negative affects that the air quality in the Wasatch Front
area has caused? The air pollution has compromised people with
respiratory problems, also those with asthma will more so feel the effects.
Those who are relatively healthy are more likely to be unharmed.
How long has the state recognized the air quality on the Wasatch
Front as a problem? Air quality has always been a concern. The Division
of Air Quality in Utah formed in 1990 to protect the public and meet the
ever changing Federal quality standards based on health outcomes.
What are some current methods being used to resolve the air
pollution? Utah is following a State Intervention Plan to stay at .5 during
the winter. The Air Quality Division recommends the public to avoid
driving during high traffic times and refrain from burning unnecessary
wood or lighting fires most importantly in the winter.
What is one change residents of Salt Lake could make to step
toward better air quality? DRIVE SMARTER. 50% of air pollution is
caused by vehicle emissions.
Problem Identified

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The problem identified by the researches is the affect air pollution has on the community
members of Salt Lake City. Salt Lake is surrounded by mountains with the Wasatch to the east
and the Oquirrh to the west. Due to the mountains surrounding Salt Lake, the pollution gets
trapped and causes the increased inversion. Air pollution in Salt Lake City has caused respiratory
infections, flu, asthma, bronchitis, hypertension, environmental damage, and can increase the
rate of morbidity. While these adverse effects have the potential to affect everyone, they are
believed to be more detrimental on the young, old, asthmatic, diabetic, heart diseased, or
longtime outdoor athletes. The community health diagnosis generated by the writers of this paper
is: Increased risk of health problems (specifically respiratory infections) among Salt Lake City
residents related to inversion and poor air quality as demonstrated by airway issues reported by
the members of the community and Utah State Health Department health statistics.
Goal and Objectives
Initiatives already in action are the Clean the Air Challenge. This challenge was started
to engage the public in ways they can reduce air pollution. Successes of the challenge include:
123,713 trips eliminated, 1,128,632 miles not traveled, $654,607 saved, 1,934,803 pounds of
emissions reduced. Idle Free Utah is another project going on whose purpose is to educate the
people the effects of letting their vehicles idle. This project can help save money, breathe easier,
and protect the environment (What is DEQ doing?, 2011).
In fact a study done in Dublin proves this is possible. Dublin banned coal sales and after
five years there was 15.5% reduction of respiratory deaths, 10.3% cardiovascular deaths, this
equaled to 116 fewer respiratory and 243 fewer cardiovascular deaths in Dublin. The study went
on to read there is now also evidence that control of traffic related pollution may have equally
beneficial effects. Asthma admissions were reduced in Atlanta in parallel with traffic measures

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taken to reduce traffic density during the 2000 Olympic Games (Chauhan & Johnston, 2003,
par. 26).
With the help of these initiatives, our goal of this air pollution issue and the researchers
intervention is to reduce the air pollution in the Salt Lake City area, especially during the winter
months, in order to increase health-related quality of life and wellbeing.
The researchers outcome objective states: by the end of 2016, it is our hope that the air
pollution in Salt Lake City, specifically in the winter months, will be reduced to consistently
meet national air quality safety standards, measured by levels of fine particulate matters (PM) 2.5
and (PM) 10 during winter months. The researchers impact objective includes: by the end of
2015, a 10 percent reduction in air pollution will be measured in Salt Lake City, related to
legislative action and public education of air quality.
These initiatives are also helping fulfill the Our Healthy People 2020 Goal of Health
Related Quality of Life and Well-being. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a
multidimensional concept that includes domains related to physical, mental, emotional, and
social functioning. It goes beyond direct measures of population health, life expectancy, and
causes of death, and focuses on the impact health status has on quality of life (Health Related
Quality, n.d). Because people are generally living longer lives, quality of life, related to physical,
mental, emotional, and social functioning, in the social context in which people live, has become
a more important focus.
Resources
In order to meet the researchers goal the resources they used includes the government as
a written testimony to be delivered to the Utah state legislature to educate the lawmakers on this
health and environmental concern. Additional resources include materials such as signs, posters,

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social media, radio ads, and public television ads to inform and educate the community, as well
as public health staff and representatives to provide education in the workplace and at city
council meetings.
Constraints
Because Salt Lake only has a few direct route public transportation options, many people
drive in individual cars. Changing peoples habits to be more air friendly may be difficult.
Another specific constraint the researchers experienced in this community project is the amount
of time they have to spread public awareness. It would take a large amount of materials to post
public awareness. The recommendation to make public transportation free in the winter months
may be an expensive cost for the city needs budget.
Community Based Intervention
The intervention implemented by the researchers of this project included a testimony
directed specifically at the Utah state legislature. This testimony was a letter on air quality
recommendation and went as follows:
Good Morning, our names are Shauna Herrmann and Jentry Nielsen
and we are nurses as well as students at Dixie State University. We are
representing the healthcare community on the issue of Air Pollution in Utah,
more specifically, Salt Lake City.
Upon moving to Salt Lake, we have noticed the issue of inversion in
the winter and from a healthcare standpoint, more respiratory conditions are
treated visitors complaining of air pollution. People that are most at risk are
those children and adults with asthma, cardiovascular disease, and aging
citizens, amounting to over 367,000 people in Salt Lake City.

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Although the government cannot be blamed for the air quality issue,
and the surrounding geographical structure itself complicates air movement,
there are ways the government can aid Salt Lake City to become a safer
environment year round.
Rule R307-201. Emission Standards: General Emission Standards and
19-1-403 and Clean Fuels and Vehicle Technology Fund-Loans or grants
made with fund money are helpful in working toward reducing air pollution.
However, more can be done.
Jentry and I recommend making public transportation free to Salt Lake
City residents during the winter months. Upon interviewing a representative
of the Utah Department of Air Quality, she firmly accounted the largest factor
in air pollution is vehicle emissions. By making the public transportation
system in Salt Lake City more available, there would likely be a reduction in
drivers, therefore reducing air pollution. We recommend allowing the public
free passage on public transportation during the months of November to
February, the months most at risk for air pollution, to reduce 2.5/10 PM levels.
As students, nurses, and residents of Salt Lake City, we would like to
make a change in the Air Quality in Salt Lake City, therefore increasing the
quality of life for not just the at risk individuals, but all for all those who live
and visit this wonderful part of Utah.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Shauna Herrmann & Jentry Nielsen

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In conjunction with the testimony written to the Utah legislature, the writers would then
post public education using mass communications methods such as: posters, signs, newspapers,
radio/television ads and fact sheets distributed around the Salt Lake area. They would also use
the public health staff to help educate the community, as well as invite the Utah Department of
Air Quality to hold education forums to inform people of the problem.
Due to the fact that this intervention includes the Utah Government and other public
officials, the legislation and public education process takes time, so there has not been an
evaluation upon this subject yet.
Conclusion
One of the main health concerns more commonly experienced in the winter months in
Utah is increased air pollution. Because the people that live in Utah generally like to be outdoors,
it is a major health concern. The goal and intervention of these writers is to reduce the air
pollution by legislation change and public education. Although this initiative may take time, an
increased awareness and availability for residents of Salt Lake to do their part to have cleaner air
will be beneficial to the community as a whole. In the end, it comes down to each individual to
decide today to choose clean air and healthier habits.

References

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Air pollution and public health in Utah. (2014). Retrieved November 30, 2014, from
http://www.health.utah.gov/utahair/
Chauhan, A. J., & Johnston, S. L. (2003). Air pollution and infection in respiratory illness.
British Medical Bulletin, 68 (1), 95-112. Retrieved from
http://bmb.oxfordjournals.org/content/68/1/95.full
Community Learning Centers. (2014). Your Best Choice | Salt Lake City School
District. Retrieved October 8, 2014, from
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Fengying, Z., Liping, L., Krafft, T., Li, W., Jianhui, Z., Lanyu, L., & ... Wuyi, W. (2014).
Time-series study on air pollution and mortality. Polish Journal Of Environmental
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Census Bureau. Retrieved October 11, 2014, from

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/49/4967000.html
What is DEQ doing?. (2011). Choose Clean Air. Retrieved October 11, 2014, from
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