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SALT LAKE CITY — With the inversion settling in, Utahns may expect increased respiratory problems or cardiovascular disease.
According to Dr. Saphu Pradhan with Intermountain Cottonwood Family Practice, new evidence shows poor air quality affects additional health issues.
Based off the evidence, pregnant women have one more reason to throw caution to the wind.
Babies who are exposed to air pollution while in utero can be born prematurely or underweight and may experience some birth defects, according to an article written by Pradhan.
“This leads to a higher risk of brain, respiratory and digestive problems early in life, and of heart disease and diabetes later on,” Pradhan wrote.
Pollutants emitted from cigarette smoke may be responsible for some of these problems, and the carcinogens in the polluted air may be cause for lung cancer, according to Pradhan.
Additional exposure to air pollution can also be traced to where a person's home is located.
Children whose houses sit near the freeway and heavy traffic are exposed to high levels of air pollution, specifically particulate pollution and carbon monoxide. These children are more prone to experience lung inflammation, reduced lung function, chronic cough, bronchitis and asthma attacks, Pradhan wrote.
“Air pollution is indeed correlated with an increase in emergency room visits and hospitalizations for these conditions, while cleaner air is correlated with a decrease,” Pradhan wrote.
Four to 8 percent of all deaths, including about 1,000 premature deaths across the Wasatch Front, can be attributed to air pollution, Pradhan wrote.
These ominous findings may spur fear in some people, but Pradhan also included a list of preventive measures to help avoid some of these issues.
Air pollution is indeed correlated with an increase in emergency room visits and hospitalizations for these conditions, while cleaner air is correlated with a decrease.
–Dr. Saphu Pradhan
For example, using public transportation, carpooling or driving slower on the freeway can reduce emissions and increase vehicle efficiency, Pradhan wrote. He also suggests avoiding burning wood.
Staying indoors may also help improve air quality.
“Air conditioning and heating units filter out many of the particles in the air that you would be breathing outdoors,” Pradhan wrote. “Exercising indoors (or above the pollution) can protect your lungs from dangerous particles.”
The air is most polluted in industrial areas so avoiding these areas and escaping to a canyon where clean air can be found above the inversion is helpful, Pradhan wrote.
Some people whose health is already affected by poor air quality are already taking medications, and Pradhan suggests asking their doctor for dosage amounts.
Pradhan suggests speaking with local lawmakers about ways to help clean up the air.
Mayor Ralph Becker, who focused his State of the City address on air quality last year, said air quality "directly impacts our physical and economic health."
