During the past month, the Wasatch Front has seen very few days where Utahns could breathe easily. During most of December and into January, we have been plagued by high levels of PM2.5 resulting in regular alerts from our State Government warning us that the air is dangerous to our health. Is this REALLY how we want to live? Do we really want to be worried that breathing on some days can seriously harm our health? Obviously, I knew NOT breathing could kill you, but I am having trouble inhaling the idea that breathing can kill too. The irony of this is as thick as the toxic soup we are currently calling air.

So, isn’t also high time we demand that our government agencies fulfill their mandate to protect human health? Isn’t it high time that highly polluting industries pay the true cost of doing their business instead of passing the bill (usually in the form of health care) onto the rest of us? And isn’t it high time that our elected officials look out for the electorate’s best interest instead of the best interests of a special few? Yes, it is time and we have a Mt. Everest of data backing this claim.

Utah Moms for Clean Air is gearing up for the next round of mom-powered “clean the air” activism, so stay tuned on how you can get involved.

THE LATEST ALERT ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

A “RED Air Quality Alert”has been issued by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality for Salt Lake, Davis, and Utah Counties for Saturday afternoon , January 9, 2010.

CACHE County: Air Quality Condition: Red Air Quality Alert. Health Advisory: Unhealthy for Sensitive People. Sensitive people (those with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children) should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.

SALT LAKE, DAVIS and UTAH Counties: Air Quality Condition: RED Air Quality Alert
Health advisory: Unhealthy for Sensitive People. Sensitive people (those with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children) should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors

Air Quality Conditions are identified as ‘RED, YELLOW, GREEN.’ You are asked to drive as little as possible during red and yellow days because cars contribute significantly to the area’s air pollution. Information on actions you can take to reduce pollution is available on the ‘Choose Clean Air’ web site at www.cleanair.utah.gov ( http://www.cleanair.utah.gov/ ).

Additional information on Health Advisories is available at: www.airquality.utah.gov ( http://www.airquality.utah.gov/ )

More information is also available on the Air Pollution Hotline. Air Quality Conditions are updated twice daily, once in the morning and again in the afternoon.
1. Residents in Salt Lake and Davis counties may call (801) 975-4009.
2. Residents in Utah and Weber counties may call (800) 228-5434.