(March 2, 2010)-A study of hospital-based medical costs resulting from poor air quality in California shows that air pollution caused $193 million in expenditures over a two-year period. This would be equal to the cost of providing flu vaccines to 85 percent of children under age 15 in California. In the study entitled, The Impact of Air Quality on Hospital Spending, which was carried out by a division of the RAND Corporation, researchers estimated the amount of medical spending on the part of private health insurers and public programs, such as Medicare, related to air pollution. They calculated that ozone and particulate matter caused almost 30,000 emergency room visits and hospital admissions for asthma, pneumonia, acute bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other ailments. The estimate is conservative because it did not account for outpatient care in medical offices or clinics. Most of the costs were shouldered by Medicare and the state-run program. The study’s authors conclude that insurers, employers and the public all have a financial stake in improving air quality.
New Year’s Resolutions to Clear The Air:
March 4th, 2010Abbie Vianes
combine errands even more tightly or not go.
walk to church every Sunday and for other meetings when possible.
talk about idling.
New Year’s Resolutions to Clear The Air:
March 4th, 2010Abbie Vianes
combine errands even more tightly or not go.
walk to church every Sunday and for other meetings when possible.
talk about idling.
New Year’s Resolutions to Clear The Air:
March 2nd, 2010Richard Valentine (Salt Lake Valley Health)
• Plan and Work to Implement at 20% per Year to 2020.
• More serious consideration of alternative transportation on “Red Days”.
• Have fun … But not too much fun.
• Encourage others (personally and professionally) to understand that the same Behavior Change (of reduced driving) will result in benefits in four areas:
o Personal Finance — Save money.
o Improve Public Health in Salt Lake Valley — Many individuals are suffering from high levels of air pollution related to motor vehicle use.
o Improve Political and Economic stability — Fossil fuels are a finite resource, as supplies run out and become more expensive social organizations will be stressed.
o Improve Global Air Quality — Burning fossil fuels is likely to very disruptive to humanity.
• Encourage others to maintain a positive attitude.(Have Fun… But not too much Fun)
Kathy Van Dame (Wasatch Clean Air Coalition)
• I will follow air quality predictions and have available alternate plans for transportation when I need to travel during ‘Air Action’ and ‘Unhealthy’ days.
• I will discuss my choices with others when appropriate.
News Article From Salt Lake Tribune From Saturday, February 27th 2010
March 1st, 2010SLC Gets EPA Grant
New Year’s Resolutions to Clear The Air:
February 28th, 2010Michele Straube (Salt Lake Solutions)
• Every day
o Leave the car at home one day a week, especially on days the inversion is coming into the valley.
o Be idle-free.
o Teleconference more, drive to meetings less.
o Trip chain
• On yellow and red alert days
o Avoid running errands and extra car trips
Sandy Underwood
• My son and I will walk to school everyday
• We will take TRAX or the bus when possible.
• Let’s keep our kids’ health and let them have clean air to breathe
News Article From The Salt Lake Tribune, Jan. 13th 2010
February 27th, 2010Kids act to help clear air
A class of 29 sixth-graders at East Millcreek’s Morningside Elementary hopes to send a message to Utah drivers — by way of the state Legislature — to shut off their cars when waiting in line.
Their anti-idling campaign is in full swing, with banners, buttons, signs and a student-produced video urging folks to “turn your key, be idle free.” And even though these kids are still too young to vote, they intend to have a voice on Capitol Hill this legislative season. State lawmakers commence their 45-day session on Jan. 25.
Rep. Carol Moss, D-Holladay, is sponsoring the students’ nonbinding resolution on clean air. While visiting their classroom Wednesday, Moss commended the group for engaging in the public process on an issue that affects everyone. “I hope you feel good about what you’re doing,” Moss said. “You can make a difference.”
In teacher Patti White’s mind, that’s the value of education in a nutshell.
“They know now that if they don’t like their air quality,” White said, “they can take steps toward actually doing something about it.”
The fruit of White’s “Team HOPE” — Helping Our Planet Earth — is already starting to sprout.
“I’m not sure if it’s a direct effect of what we’re doing,” said one boy. “But just two days ago, no one in the entire line of cars [at school] was idling.”
Several of White’s students have asthma. And all Morningside pupils must forgo recess when the air quality is bad. Utah topped the charts this week for the worst air in the nation, driving the kids inside until the Wasatch Front inversion clears.
The students — some of them future state officeholders, perhaps — peppered their draft resolution with facts about the damaging effects of engine-idling on health, the air and yes, the vehicles themselves. Moss said she will need the group’s support during upcoming committee and floor discussions on the resolution.
“And it’s important that you send an e-mail or letter to your representatives,” Moss said. “That’s called lobbying for a bill.”
Robin Erickson, director of Utah Clean Cities, was also on hand Wednesday to applaud the kid-powered effort.
“This resolution climaxes everything we’ve been working on,” Erickson said, citing anti-idling ordinances in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Provo and Ogden as precursors. “This will take it statewide,” Erickson said. “People are finally ready to listen when you have the worst air quality in the nation.”
By Cathy McKitrick
cmckitrick@sltrib.com
New Year’s Resolutions to Clear The Air:
February 26th, 2010Bianca Shreeve (Mayor Becker’s Office)
• Carpool
• Work from home, on days when I can get away with it
• I will continue to not idle!
• Combine trips and run errands all at once
• Use city CNG vehicle for all city business that requires travel
• Use “peer pressure” to convince people not to idle
• Talk to my friends and family about the importance of reducing vehicle emissions
Debbie Sigman
• I resolve to offer/ask for carpools with friends and neighbors.
• I will offer to pick up groceries if it saves someone a trip.
• I will email my neighborhood list about this campaign.
LeeAnn Spencer
• Drive less and take advantage of public transportation
• Have my friends and family take it with me
Article From Utah Moms For Clean Air
February 25th, 2010Doing what we can to lessen winter pollution.
No one needs to tell residents of the Wasatch Front that our air is polluted during the winter. We can literally see, smell and taste the evidence.
In the winter months, the Wasatch Front experiences acutely polluted and very unhealthy air. Winter brings the right meteorological conditions (cold temperatures, no breeze, snow on the ground) that cause our valleys to fill up with particulate matter and other pollution as it is trapped under a layer of warmer air.
During these times, the air along the Wasatch Front is among the most polluted in the entire country. 50% of this toxic pollution comes from automobiles. Fine particles such as those in soot and dust can become lodged in delicate lung tissue, decreasing lung function–a particularly hazardous situation for children, fetuses, and people with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
(Click here for a current look at Salt Lake Visibility)
Make a Difference
You have the power to make a difference in our air quality.
During these times of poor air quality, one of the best things you can do is leave your vehicle parked and look for other ways to get around.
If you can’t leave your vehicle parked, make sure you’re driving smarter and taking other steps to reduce air pollution.
For more great ideas, check out this list of suggestions or take a quick survey to see which options best suit you.
What you can do:
Get notified about Air Quality so you will know when the air is deteriorating and be prepared to act accordingly
Create your own “Red Air Day Action Plan”–plan in advance so you can avoid all unnecessary driving
Ask your child’s school principal about their Red Air Exercise Reccomendations and make sure the guidelines are being used. See these suggestions for implementing the guidelines.
Don’t idle your car longer than ten seconds and set up an anti-idling program at your child’s school or your own place of work.
Links:
50 winter steps: http://www.cleanair.utah.gov/winter_steps.htm
Idle Free Utah: http://www.idlefree.utah.gov/idling_impacts.htm
Air Quality Alerts: http://www.cleanair.utah.gov/listserv.htm
New Year’s Resolutions to Clear The Air:
February 24th, 2010Jeff Rowley
• We purchased a smaller car for the daily errands and running-around.
• I joined the van pool and walk to the pick-up location.
• My wife and I are working on combining trips so we leave the garage less often.
• Set a good example and provide encouragement to others.
Ed Rutan (SLC Attorney’s Office)
• I will carpool with a colleague in the office one day a week, which will result in a 10% reduction in emissions for the two of us combined.
Deb Shea
• Drive less
• Consolidate errands
