Air Quality & Health
Poor Air Quality Can Impact Your Health
Everyone is vulnerable to experiencing complications during times of high pollution, ozone, and wildfire smoke. Those who are most at risk of severe health effects are older adults, children, pregnant women, people with underlying heart and lung disease, and those who work outdoors.
Air pollution is a mix of hazardous substances from both man-made and natural sources. Vehicle emissions, fuel oils and natural gas to heat homes, by-products of manufacturing and power generation, particularly coal-fueled power plants, and fumes from chemical production are the primary sources of human-made air pollution.
In the two images below, you can see the effect of an inversion: the left side shows a day with very low levels of PM, while the right side shows a day three weeks later during an inversion with higher levels of PM2.5.
Utah One Health
A program managed by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), One Health is an approach that recognizes that the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and our shared environment. One Health is not new, but it has become more important in recent years. This is because many factors have changed interactions between people, animals, plants, and our environment.
There are multiple environmental health concerns that affect humans and animals, including:
- Environmental contaminants:
- Harmful algal blooms in water bodies
- Drought and the shrinking of the Great Salt Lake
- Air pollution
- Coccidioides in humans and pets
How Can You Protect Yourself from Poor Air?
The best way to protect yourself during times of poor air quality is to avoid activity outside when air pollution and heat are high. If you want to recreate outside, morning is best when temperatures are cooler and air pollution levels are lower. It's important to pay attention to your body. If you are experiencing concerning symptoms such as troubled breathing, cough, or fever, get medical attention. Stay hydrated as well.
Certain well-fitting face masks with particulate filters such as N95 and N99 masks can help reduce exposure to particulate pollution. However, they do not reduce exposure to gaseous pollutants or heat, and Pirozzi says overall health benefits haven't been well established. Using HEPA filters in the home can also help reduce levels of particulate pollution.
