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Samantha Hayes reporting This is the 12th-day in a row an inversion has covered the Wasatch Front. It's the 9th day for fog. And, the 7th straight day of unhealthy, RED air quality restrictions.
So, how are Utahns handling the gunk?
The inversion has some immediate effects on our behavior- we change some personal habits here and there and maybe feel a little gloomy.
What's important to notice are the serious health effects.
700 Deerfield Elementary School students are confined to the lunchroom during the best part of the day-recess.
Jane Friel Principal, Deerfield Elementary: “But it is necessary. We don't want the kids to get sick because of being outside."
The Health Department is telling schools to keep kids inside-because of the cold temperatures and air pollution.
A lot of adults are heeding the same warning.
In an exclusive Survey USA poll for Eyewitness News, 35 percent of those polled said the inversion is having an effect on their health.
Neil Rowley, West Bountiful: “Yesterday, my chest was really heavy feeling. And it has been affecting the way i feel when i get home from work."
Professor Arden Pope of BYU says our lungs swell when we breathe in air with too many particles.
Prof. Arden Pope Brigham Young University: What we'll see is increases in death, increases in hospitalizations, increases in various health endpts that indicated respiratory or cardiovascular illness. "
59% of respondents say the inversion has caused them to cut back on driving.
Rick Sprott: “Each day the more we can prevent from going into the stew..the better off we are and the principle source of this pollution right now is our vehicles."
And under this high pressure system, there no place for those pollutants to go-but into our lungs.
The one thing most people have changed, is out door exercise. 76% are working out indoors or not at all.
Dave Joplin/Runner: “Miserable..it couldn't be any more miserable than it is."
So miserable, one-third of respondants say they plan to get out of town.
