Public actions can help air quality during Utah inversions

Salt Lake City, Utah — According to Utah Clean Air Partnership says there are small steps that can be taken to reduce the harm from bad air.

Their slogan—live to breathe—is to remind the public that everyone is in this together and can make a difference for each other.

As vehicle emissions are major contributors to the inversions, UCAIR is reminding the public to reduce or condense car travel.

According to UCAIR, replacing wood-burning stoves and fireplaces with natural gas versions will also help reduce nitrogen oxides emissions that harm the ozone layer, but the most important thing people can do is to stop idling their vehicles.

“If every single person could turn off their car when they are in that line or when they are picking up their kids from school, it would have such a huge impact. And it’s an easy action to take, it doesn’t change any behaviors other than really, just turning our car on and off, it’s that simple,” says Kim Frost, UCAIR’s Executive Director.

Despite inversions being most apparent in the winter, bad air quality in the summertime will impact how Utahns’ ability to enjoy outdoor recreation.

“Utah is best experienced when we can see the landscapes when we can play outside when we can breathe clean air and it’s up to all of us to make that happen,” said Jake Miller, Executive Director of the Utah Golf Association.