Human-Environment Interaction of the United States of America

• The US economy is diverse, from car manufacturing to internet technology, agriculture, and almost everything in between.

Air Quality in America

• 47 percent of the nation live where pollution levels are too often dangerous to breathe.

• THAT IS ALMOST HALF!

Cleanest Cities

• Year Round Cleanest Cities:• #5 - St. George, UT • Top 25 was dominated by AZ, NM, AK, ID, OR.

Most Polluted Cities

• Year-Round Pollution • About ¾ of top 25 cities are all in CA. • Short Term Pollution: • #8 - Salt Lake City, UT #11 - Logan, UT

SALT LAKE VALLEY

• Location: – Approximately 500

square miles. – We live in a bowl.– Surrounded by

mountains in every direction.

(Except in the the Northwest – Great Salt Lake)

People

• “The Valley” is home to 1.1 million people!• They live from East in Sandy and all the way

out west in West Valley. • With almost everyone over the age of 16 a

driver, that makes for easy pollution.

How to change the air?

• 1. Carpool• 2. Trip Chain – Everything in one Run• 3. Accelerate Slow• 4. Telecommute• 5. NO Idle

Dangerous PM2.5• Particulate Matter

comes from cars and many industrial processes.

• Every winter, the valley hits a dangerous level of 35 every year.

• When PM2.5 gets in your system. It affects your respiratory system.

Salt Lake City INVERSION

Why should we be concerned about the inversion?

SMOG

• Smog is the brownish gray haze that hovers over Salt Lake City in the Wintertime.

Causes of Smog Health Risks & Problems

• Respiratory Problems: Asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.

• Reduces resistance to colds and lung infections.

• Higher risk of lung cancer and heart failure. • Depression• In sever cases, smog can cause death.

The Great Smog of 1952

Is Salt Lake City doing anything to fix the poor air quality?

Solutions to Create Better Air Quality.

• Use Renewable Energy– Wind Energy– Solar Energy

What are Different Ways we can Personally Help Utah Have Better Air

Quality?