FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2002
Contacts:
Rick Sprott, Utah Division of Air Quality Director (801) 536-4022
Laura Vernon, DEQ Public Information Officer (801) 536-4484
The American Lung Association's State of the Air Report correctly recognizes the significant health problems associated with air pollution and the need to improve and maintain air quality across the nation and in Utah. The report's grading system may be misleading however, according to Rick Sprott, director of the Utah Division of Air Quality.
The system lumps cities with severe pollution such as Los Angeles and Houston into the same "grade" as those with only moderate problems such as Salt Lake City. The report also fails to use the latest data, which makes a significant difference for Utah.
No county in Utah has ever violated the new, stringent standards for ozone or PM2.5. Overall pollution levels have been decreasing for the last decade. However, pollution does still exceed health standards on some days, which can impact health. Steps taken since 1998 to reduce ozone have included:
The summer ozone alert season will begin on June 1, and we will all be asked to do our part to prevent pollution.
"We are past the point where we can take our air quality for granted," Sprott said. "Having clean air is something that we as individuals have to work on together."