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So what is the smog like?

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_Jesus_
Posts: 2070 - Karma: 260
Pretty straightforward question. How is it throughout the year? How bad does it get? Would you move away because of it?

obviously a non-local here.
Jan 7 2013 9:27PM
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_Jesus_
Posts: 2070 - Karma: 260
oops, I meant how is the smog in SLC?
Jan 7 2013 9:27PM
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JWoods
Posts: 2369 - Karma: 2,635
It's really not that bad, it makes the city look like shit and its kind of gross to think about but it doesn't effect me. I have asthma and it doesnt even make a difference
Jan 7 2013 11:47PM
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chubbspeterson
Posts: 575 - Karma: 4,340
we have the worst air quality in the country right now. if you ate the snow outside, it would probably poison you.
Jan 8 2013 10:23AM
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SkiBum.
Posts: 3600 - Karma: 3,909
I like when it gets so think it freezes to everything then snows pollution.

I would not know though because I don't to down to the shitty city.

Looks bad from the peaks looking down.
Jan 8 2013 10:49AM
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YewTard
Posts: 619 - Karma: 196
The inversions during the winter are a bit of an eyesore but nothing more. I think people mostly just bitch about them because...well... people need something to bitch about. There's some haze in the summer but I've lived all over the country and that's nothing unique to Salt Lake.
Jan 8 2013 1:02PM
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Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 701
this is not true at all....

The pollution in SLC is definitely a problem, it's definitely detrimental to your health. I took an atmospheric science class where all we studied was the pollution here. It's fucking disgusting, but our geography does not help at all.

The mine doesn't help us at all either. Having a smokestack in a basin that is prone to inversions can cause an effect called "fumigating" which is terrible.

I'm not saying you will cut your lifespan in half by living in SLC your whole life but the pollution here is not "something people just bitch about for the sake of bitching about."
Jan 8 2013 3:51PM
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_Jesus_
Posts: 2070 - Karma: 260
do you still think its a worth while place to be?
Jan 8 2013 4:43PM
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SkiBum.
Posts: 3600 - Karma: 3,909
I would not live down there. Plenty of places close by, in the mountains, that are way nicer, less polluted, better people, better living.
Jan 8 2013 4:44PM
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Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 701
absolutely man!

We have amazing snow and amazing mountains. I don't want to discourage you from living here, it's just the truth. We have some of the worst air quality in the country, we barely pass EPA standards on numerous pollutants and some we don't pass.

Anyone who tells you this kind of air quality is good or does not negatively affect you needs to stop eating paint chips for breakfast.
Jan 8 2013 4:50PM
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_Jesus_
Posts: 2070 - Karma: 260
^^
This is a question related to going to the U. probably shouldve said that.
Jan 8 2013 4:50PM
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j.saaaarela
Posts: 1859 - Karma: 856
The U is a bit higher elevation-wise in the valley, so it's just hard to look at more than anything. Still smoggy up here, but I'd rather be higher up than down on the valley floor. It's not bad, I definitely wouldn't say it would be a reason not to come here.
Jan 8 2013 6:07PM
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_Jesus_
Posts: 2070 - Karma: 260
Thanks for all the input. How long (on average) does the smog stay in the valley. What im really asking is how long does it take for a storm to come in. Ive asked a few people already and gotten good answers, but I always want to get as much input as possible
Jan 8 2013 6:18PM
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stickski
Posts: 1938 - Karma: 1,529
No i kinda think it's this. I have friends who complain that is feels like they have asthma... I never notice it/think about it except when I'm up skiing or see people complain about it on fb
Jan 9 2013 4:02PM
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Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 701
it's not like a bad pollution day you are going to not be able to breathe or have trouble breathing. It's unsightly but the problem lies with chronic long term exposure...that's where negative health effects come into play.

To answer your question above....it's random how often storms come in, totally up to the snow gods.
Jan 9 2013 10:49PM
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Troy.
Posts: 5070 - Karma: 12,549
It really depends on the weather patterns. Right now, we've had a high pressure system hanging out over Utah, which has prevented any storms from moving in and "clearing the smog" so to speak, but it should be swept out by this weekend after the storm.
Jan 9 2013 10:57PM
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eheath
Posts: 61603 - Karma: 123,110
Not moving to Utah because of the short inversion season is stupid. Everyone is blowing it out of proportion because last year we had high pressure over Utah for like 4 of the 6 months of winter. A normal season there is an inversion for a few days when its nice and sunny then a storm rolls I'm and it clears up. this happens dec-feb tops, as soon as the valley warms up its over and its clear the rest of the year. Yes there is a lot of pollution in SLC but its expected with how many plants and factories there are. Along with the i-15 corridor and how many cars drive right through the valley to go other places.

To summarize, don't worry about the inversion its no reason to not move here.
Jan 11 2013 4:56AM
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_Jesus_
Posts: 2070 - Karma: 260
I didnt say I wasnt going to move. I just wanted some input. I figured it was worth asking if it had the potential to be as bad as other people on the internet claimed it was.

thanks though. I didn't know there was such a long lasting inversion last year.
Jan 11 2013 10:16AM
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eheath
Posts: 61603 - Karma: 123,110
Yeah, last year we had like a 2 month long high pressure over utah and the inversion was terrible. Whats funny is 1/2 the time the inversion is actually just fog. I've seen some "smogy" days that I looked at the air quality report and it was green. People just always assume its harmful (which probably 75% of the time it is bad air) but sometimes its not, like last year there were a couple weeks it was just foggy and the air quality was green.

Anyways, its nbd really and anyone who tells you it effects them is just bitching for the sake of bitching.
Jan 11 2013 10:19AM
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Dr.Dickless
Posts: 2620 - Karma: 1,392
its pretty shitty, but it makes heading into the mountains even more rewarding
Jan 12 2013 12:51AM
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Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 701
lol...lol..lol..

I guess this is the reason you are a filmer and not a scientist.

Do you even know the chemical composition of the pollution in the valley? I'll tell you one thing in it is Carbon Monoxide...you know that stuff that is odorless, tasteless, and can kill you??

It's ironic b/c you even said it in your post with regards to lots of cars and I-15. Incomplete combustion of octane (ratio of O2 is off) produces all sorts of nasty shit from your tailpipe.

Lots of pollutants in the air are similar to what's in cigarette smoke. Are you trying to tell me smoking cigarettes is not harmful? Cigarettes are much more concentrated but you still are breathing in some of the same shit daily.

The pollution is not a reason to stop you from coming here, but I promise you if you live here all your life there will be slight negative consequences.

Jan 13 2013 2:25PM
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eheath
Posts: 61603 - Karma: 123,110
I was simply saying a few days every couple weeks for a couple months isn't gonna effect you that much. If you lived in that air 24/7 for like 10 years straight ya it would be unhealthy, i never said pollution was good for you, i just hate how everyone bitches theyre sick cause of the smog but it also happens to be flu/cold season... i mostly was trying to tell OP to not worry about it.
Jan 13 2013 4:23PM
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Polar_Beer
Posts: 1515 - Karma: 228
This man knows his shit. My only impute on the subject is that with all of the pollution scattering the light we get some incredibly beautiful sunsets here. The mountains don't hurt the view either
Jan 13 2013 8:08PM
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Utard
Posts: 2132 - Karma: 305
Definitely not true. I've got asthma and it makes my throat close up every time it gets bad here. It's not a sickness because it goes away as soon as it snows and it's not psychological because i can feel it as soon as my eyes open in the morning, regardless of whether or not I know it's bad out there or not. The shitty air quality here has also been implicated in Utah's autism rates, which are the highest in the nation. 1 in 32 for every baby boy born here...
Jan 20 2013 2:17PM
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eheath
Posts: 61603 - Karma: 123,110
Thats bullshit, the air is ONLY bad during an inversion. Everyone bitches they get sick during inversions BUT its also cold as fuck outside and its cold/flu season. Also, are you kidding me about the austism rates? that has no link to air quality. 10 of 12 months in slc the air is clear as fuck.
Jan 20 2013 2:36PM
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Polar_Beer
Posts: 1515 - Karma: 228
This isn't air pollution related, it's just all the inbreeding mormons...
Jan 20 2013 3:45PM
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Utard
Posts: 2132 - Karma: 305
http://www.deq.utah.gov/FactSheets/AQ_Health_Effects.htm

"Particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide affect breathing and respiratory function. Existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease may be aggravated, the body’s defense system against bacteria and viruses may be altered, and lung tissue may be damaged. Some studies indicate that particulate matter decreases the heart’s ability to respond to physical stress. When the heart cannot adapt well to changes in the heart rate, its oxygen-carrying capacity in the blood is reduced.

When carbon monoxide enters the bloodstream, it too reduces the delivery of oxygen to the body’s organs and tissues.

Health threats are most serious for those who suffer from cardiovascular disease, asthma, emphysema, influenza, and bronchitis. Children and the elderly are also likely to be adversely affected by heavy concentrations of these pollutants."

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/entertainment/51847423-183/autism-chemicals-utah-metals.html.csp

High amounts of toxin/heavy metal releases + lid of particulate matter trapping everything in = you draw a conclusion

Jan 21 2013 1:20PM
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Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 701
hahaha...this man really knows what's up
Jan 21 2013 11:27PM
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ski_utah
Posts: 494 - Karma: 160
you tell me...I took this right when the inversion was at its worst, not likin it
Click for larger image
Jan 21 2013 11:31PM
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_Jesus_
Posts: 2070 - Karma: 260
Thanks for all the input

and btw Ski_Utah, I made that icon. someone else sized it down.
Jan 21 2013 11:35PM
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Polar_Beer
Posts: 1515 - Karma: 228
Click for larger image

No wonder it's so bright at night. Shit is like a giant mirror.
Jan 22 2013 3:24PM
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SkiBum.
Posts: 3600 - Karma: 3,909
The current inversion and air quality in the city is some of the worst ever.

The air quality which I think is measured in PPM, in Orem the other day was the worst ever recorded for the city.

If it was any other city, in any other country, then would be wearing masks if you go outside. Which really, should be done.
Jan 22 2013 9:04PM
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eheath
Posts: 61603 - Karma: 123,110
All I hear is blah blah blah I'm a big pussy. I lived in SLC for 5 years with the smog and never bitched as much as you and other have been this year.
Jan 22 2013 9:25PM
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wasatch_rat
Posts: 1772 - Karma: 2,951
can you really not accept the scientific fact that the polluted air is bad for us and it has affected people's respiratory systems? it doesn't matter if you complain about it or not, it is a serious problem. if i could change anything in utah it would be the air quality way before anything else.
Jan 23 2013 12:05PM
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Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 701
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/51006311-76/pollution-utah-county-lake.html.csp

"But even if air quality rebounds next week, the ill health effects of this week's inversion will remain, said Brian Moench, president of the Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment. The health impacts on the human body remain for a month after such pollution spikes."

What's just as bad is that air pollution has a cumulative effect over the years on arteries and organs.

"This is a real public health crisis," he said. "We certainly ought to take it more seriously."

Air pollution at the levels experienced along the Wasatch Front and in Cache County this week is like smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for people who are outside all day, he said."

I said it before, you are breathing some of the same chemicals in cigarettes. There is no study on this earth or any fucktard on this earth who will say cigarettes DO NOT negatively impact you.

I don't know if eheath is stubborn, stupid, ignorant, or a combination of the three but he can believe whatever he wants to believe. Ignorance is bliss, I guess?

Jan 23 2013 1:59PM
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R.Fahey
Posts: 8602 - Karma: 539
to the thread creator... It's bad, but not something that would keep me from moving here. The U is sometimes just high enough that you aren't directly in it, which is nice.
Some years it really only happens a few times.
This year is especially bad because of all the snow in the valley. Snow in the valley makes the valley floor colder which keeps the cold air down and keeps the smog in. So, this year even if a storm comes through to move it out, it's still going to stay around.

It sucks, but like Heath said it's just a couple months out of the year. And some years it just doesn't happen much at all.
Jan 23 2013 3:35PM
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Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 701
I don't understand why you guys think air quality is only bad when we have an inversion.
Jan 23 2013 7:55PM
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eheath
Posts: 61603 - Karma: 123,110
Because its not bad when there isn't an inversion. That doesnt mean the slc valley doesn't have polution but it doesnt get stuck in the air on a normal day.
Jan 23 2013 11:36PM
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Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 701
It's not bad comparatively to when we have an inversion but by no means is it good. We triple EPA toxicity standards sometimes during an inversion but sometimes even when there isn't we are right below the standards.

It all depends on the day, atmospheric stability, wind, humidity, solubility of gases, time of season, cloud cover, albedo, lots of things affect the concentration in the valley. It just becomes visibly noticeable and the worst in the winter.

Whatever though, I have talked way too much in this thread. SLC is still a great place and the skiing is awesome.


Jan 24 2013 11:32AM
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_Jesus_
Posts: 2070 - Karma: 260
Nightly news was just on for me.

So SLC has the worst air quality in the country right now, and even on camera (not long-exposure photos) it looks terrible. Im feeling a bit discouraged right now. Just wanted to share in hopes of getting a few more responses from those of you that live there.

I dont even know what I want to hear anymore. Im just disheartened.
Jan 25 2013 8:53PM
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hawaiiansteeze
Posts: 3255 - Karma: 3,226
if the smog is deterring you from moving to utah then i dont think that is a rational decision.

does the smog get bad in the winter occasionaly- yes
is it not necessarily the best thing for your health- yes
is it going to kill you- no

i've not once regretted moving here because of the inversion.
Jan 25 2013 9:19PM
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_Jesus_
Posts: 2070 - Karma: 260
Its not. Ive been set on the U for a long time. I just want all the information I can get so I can be comfortable with my decision.

In short, I want you all to coddle and comfort me.
Jan 25 2013 9:27PM
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j.saaaarela
Posts: 1859 - Karma: 856
I've never actually seen it this bad. The current inversion has been going on for about a month (?) but it's definitely not this bad all the time.
Jan 25 2013 9:58PM
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eheath
Posts: 61603 - Karma: 123,110
Don't come them ya softy
Jan 26 2013 7:06AM
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_Jesus_
Posts: 2070 - Karma: 260
='(
Jan 26 2013 12:20PM
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wasatch_rat
Posts: 1772 - Karma: 2,951
no where is perfect man. name one other place where you can have a major city, a good university, and world class skiing within a 40 minute drive plus good air quality and i'll be there. get a place pretty far up on the east side and going skiing a lot when there's an inversion and you'll be able to avoid the worst of it. the u is also high enough to get some cleaner air.
Jan 26 2013 9:32PM
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intifada
Posts: 931 - Karma: 263
i don't know man i see plenty of poor air quality warnings in the summer time.
Jan 26 2013 9:38PM
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_Jesus_
Posts: 2070 - Karma: 260
for sure. thats not what the crying thing was about haha.

thanks everyone
Jan 26 2013 10:10PM
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SkiBum.
Posts: 3600 - Karma: 3,909
http://www.today.com/video/today/50838996/#50838996

Get learned.
Feb 17 2013 1:20PM
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eheath
Posts: 61603 - Karma: 123,110
Get learned? meh that was a new piece based off of assumptions. SLC parents have just been bitching so the today show took advantage of a situation where they can emotionally power a new piece to boost ratings. Last year and this year have been bad but my freshman year (5 years ago) I dont even remember there being an inversion.
Feb 17 2013 2:25PM
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meowshred
Posts: 388 - Karma: 28
probably because of the inversion.
Feb 17 2013 3:12PM
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