The Wasatch Front gets a failing grade for ozone in the air.
And our drought, and the fires it will bring, could make this summer's smog even worse.
Ozone is a powerful respiratory irritant, often called "summer smog."
And for those who have trouble breathing, a summer filled with wildfires could be downright dangerous.
News Specialist John Daley reports.
Summer 2000.
Temperatures hovered around 100 degrees.
Smoke everywhere, as wildfires swept across the West.
Along the Wasatch Front, monitors lit up, warning of dangerous levels of ozone--a lung-damaging combination of Nitrogen Oxide and Hydrocarbons.
And that was just the worst example.
The American Lung Association's 2002 State of the Air Report gives the Wasatch Front low grades for ozone between 1998 and 2000.
Salt Lake County got an F; 22 days were unhealthy for people sensitive to ozone.
Davis and Utah Counties--also an F.
Weber County--a C, up from a D.
Cache County and San Juan County got A's.
But the state regulators call the report misleading and say Utah has actually seen improvements in air quality, and is in better shape that many cities.
But, he says, our rapid growth is again pushing Utah closer to exceeding federal health standards.
Rick Sprott/Utah Director of Air Quality: "WE'VE NEVER VIOLATED THE NEW, MORE STRINGENT STANDARD. BUT HAVING SAID THAT, WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO THE HEALTH STANDARD AND SO WE CERTAINLY WANT TO DO MORE AS POPULATION INCREASES AND SO FORTH."
Sprott says new auto emission standards should help cut down on ozone trouble in the long run.
But the drought is setting us up for what could be a brutal wildfire season.
Smoke and ozone from those fires could mean trouble for those with respiratory ailments like -- especially asthmatics, seniors, and children under the age of 15--this summer could be awful for ozone.
Sprott: "I DON'T THINK WE DESERVE AN "F." THAT'S NOT WHAT THE REAL MEASUREMENTS SAY. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THE LUNG ASSOCIATION IS CORRECT IN SAYING THERE ARE PROBLEMS HERE IN UTAH AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE NATION AND WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO DO BETTER THAN WE ARE DOING."
To get that point across, the state plans a new education campaign this summer.
To help ease our ozone problems, avoid driving when possible, fill up you car after the sun goes down, and mow your lawn only during the late afternoon or early morning.
May 3, 2002
