Utah Moms for Clean Air

It’s a step. A small story in a local Reno newspaper shows us that some Nevadans are noticing objections of Utahns to new coal plants upwind, over the state border.

Five hundred Washington County, Utah, residents have signed a petition opposing a plant in Mesquite, just over the state line from St. George, Utah. They are making contact with Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and congressmembers from Utah in their effort to stop the plant.

• Read full story: “Buried Coal,” Dennis Myers, Reno News & Review, November 29, 2007.

File all alerts about mercury pollution under Shocking Facts. It turns out that the mercury from Nevada gold mines polluting our air has been under-reported.

“Nevada is one of the nation’s top mercury hot spots,” said Bonnie Gestring of EARTHWORKS, a national watchdog group. “People have a right to know how much toxic mercury is released near their home and workplace.”

The mercury in this case comes from gold mining, but keep in mind that Utah’s coal power also adds mercury to our atmosphere. Read the whole press release for a solid jolt.

New emissions data, obtained from the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection (NDEP), show that northern Nevada gold mines are still under-reporting substantial amounts of mercury air pollution. It also reveals that a number of mines that were previously considered small sources of mercury air pollution are actually very large sources, yet these mines have few pollution controls in place. Until 2006, mines were not required to actually measure mercury releases, only estimate mercury emissions.

Mercury exposure is a serious pubic health concern, particularly for children. Exposure to mercury can cause significant neurological and developmental problems such as attention and language deficits, impaired memory and impaired vision and motor function.

“We now know that hundreds of pounds of mercury are needlessly going into our air from mines that have minimal controls in place,” said John Hadder of Great Basin Mine Watch. “This new information is a wake-up call. We want the State and industry to agree to get controls in place right away.”

• Press release from Earthworks, Washington, D.C., November 2007.

More resources on mercury pollution

• Mercury Information, from Utah Department of Environmental Quality.
• Mercury Pollution Primer from Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy includes legislative history up to 2005.
• Protect Babies, a Pennsylvania citizens’ group fighting mercury pollution.
• UN meeting on mercury in Bankok / Nairobi - “Global Agreement on Mercury Pollution Focus of International Meeting,” November 12, 2007. Includes more UN documents on global mercury pollution.

A study published yesterday by researchers from from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health, from University of North Carolina, and from the Environmental Protection Agency says body mass matters when it comes to smog.

A new study provides the first evidence that people with higher body mass index (BMI) may have a greater response to ozone than leaner people. Short-term exposure to atmospheric ozone has long been known to cause a temporary drop in lung function in many people. This is the first study in humans to look at whether body weight influenced how much lung function falls after acute ozone exposure. Ozone is formed in the atmosphere in the presence of sunlight from other pollutants emitted from vehicles and other sources. Exposure occurs when people inhale air containing ozone.

Researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health, the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) analyzed data on young (18–35 years), healthy, non-smoking men and women to see if BMI - a measure of the amount of fat a person has - had an effect on lung response to acute ozone exposure. The study published this month in the journal Inhalation Toxicology found that ozone response was greater with increasing BMI.

• Read the full press release from NIEHS, November 27, 2007.
• Read the abstract. Reference: Bennett WD, Hazucha MJ, Folinsbee LJ, Bromberg PA, Kissling GE, London SJ. Acute Pulmonary Function Response to Ozone in Young Adults as a Function of Body Mass Index. Inhalation Toxicology, 2007 19 (14): 1147-1154.

As many of you have probably noticed, we have had a string of YELLOW Alert Days in the past week. The inversion season is hitting us fast and hard this year and makes crystal clear the need for real change. Whenever a yellow or red air quality day occurs, do what you can reduce your personal contribution to the problem by driving less and taking public transit when possible. (See the Utah Department of Environmental Quality for more ways you can Choose Clean Air. ) (You can check the daily air quality forecast here.) Also, make sure your elected officials know how important this issue is to you and to you and your children’s health.

Learn more about the health effects of air pollution. Driving less is a lot easier than dealing with the respiratory and the cardiovascular consequences of air pollution.

‘Mercury, lead tests for babies explored’; State pilot study identifies newborns who have risky levels of the metals, By Heather May , The Salt Lake Tribune, Article Launched: 11/11/2007
‘West Valley City ponders transit v. roads’, By Brandon Loomis, The Salt Lake Tribune 11/15/2007.
‘Corridor option in Lehi opposed’ Foes say 2100 North link would have high air-pollution costs; By Catherine Smith, Deseret Morning News, Published: Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007.
‘Concerns voiced about Mountain View Corridor’; By Nicole Warburton, Deseret Morning News, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007.
‘Public Learns More About Proposed Mountain View Corridor’; November 17th, 2007 (KSL News Channel 5).

‘Cleaner air is the goal of new coalition’, By Judy Fahys, 11/08/07, The Salt Lake Tribune.

‘Clean Air Advocates Gather In SLC’, Nov 08, 2007 by Eric Ray (KCPW News).

‘Moms team up to combat Utah’s dirty air’, 11/08/07, SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News).

‘Utah Clean Air Alliance formed to fight Wasatch Front pollution’, By Jared Page, Deseret Morning, Friday, Nov. 9, 2007.

‘Alliance Formed to Fight Wasatch Front Pollution’, November 9th, 2007 (KSL Channel 5 News).

‘Utah Moms want better air quality’, Group envisions focus on laws and practical tools for good health. By Judy Fahys , The Salt Lake Tribune, 11/10/2007.

Tomorrow, Friday, November 8, is anticipated by the Utah Department of Air Quality to be another Yellow Air Quality day in Salt Lake and Davis Counties.

CACHE County: Air quality condition as issued by the Bear River Health Dept.: GREEN
Health advisory: none

SALT LAKE & DAVIS counties: Air quality condition: YELLOW
Health advisory: none

UTAH County: Air quality condition: GREEN
Health advisory: none

WEBER County: Air quality condition: GREEN
Health advisory: none

Air quality conditions are identified as ‘RED, YELLOW, GREEN.’ A red condition during winter indicates wood burning is prohibited, yellow condition during winter means a voluntary no burn, and green condition in winter means burning is allowed.

You are asked to drive as little as possible during red and yellow days because cars contribute significantly to the area’s air pollution. More information on actions you can take to reduce pollution is available on the ‘Choose Clean Air’ web site at www.cleanair.utah.gov.

You can take action that will have a positive effect on air quality. You can choose clean air. In your personal actions, it is all about putting less pollution into the air. Drive less, take Trax, don’t idle if you do take your car (avoid the drive through lane for take-out food), ride your bike, walk, or just stay home. Could you telecommute on Yellow or Red days? See the Utah Department of Environmental Quality for more ways you can Choose Clean Air. Learn about Winter Driving before the snow surprises you.

If those steps seem too difficult, learn more about the health effects of air pollution. Driving less is a lot easier than dealing with the respiratory and the cardiovascular consequences of air pollution.

Thursday, November 7, is again anticipated to be Air Quality Condition Yellow in Salt Lake and Davis Counties. The pollutant of concern during the current string of Yellow days is PM2.5, particulate matter.

CACHE County: Air quality condition as issued by the Bear River Health Dept.: GREEN
Health advisory: none

SALT LAKE & DAVIS counties: Air quality condition: YELLOW
Health advisory: none

UTAH County: Air quality condition: GREEN
Health advisory: none

WEBER County: Air quality condition: GREEN
Health advisory: none

What to do?

You are asked to drive as little as possible during red and yellow days because cars contribute significantly to the area’s air pollution.

Sign up for air quality alerts and find out more about what you can do by visiting Choose Clean Air from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.