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Air Quality and the SLVHDAir pollution comes from many different sources: stationary sources such as factories, power plants, and smelters and smaller sources such as dry cleaners and degreasing operations; mobile sources such as cars, buses, planes, trucks, and trains; and naturally occurring sources such as windblown dust, and volcanic eruptions, all contribute to air pollution. Air Quality can be affected in many ways by the pollution emitted from these sources. These pollution sources can also emit a wide variety of pollutants. The EPA has these pollutants classified as the six principal pollutants (or criteria pollutants, as they are also known, and they are monitored by the EPA, as well as national, state and local organizations, such as the Salt Lake Valley Health Department (SLVHD).The public health importance of a clean and safe environment is enormous. People with asthma experience more than 100 million days of restricted activity, costs for asthma exceed $4 billion, and about 4,000 people die of asthma. Air pollution levels have been associated with increased respiratory health problems among people living in the affected areas. According to the Healthy People 2000 report, each year in the US - · The health costs of human exposure to outdoor air pollutants range from $40 to $50 billion. · An estimated 50,000 to 120,000 premature deaths are associated with exposure to air pollutants. · People with asthma experience more than 100 million days of restricted activity, costs for asthma exceed $4 billion, and about 4,000 people die of asthma. The Bureau of Air Pollution Control of the SLVHD administers a variety of programs designed to preserve, improve, and protect the air resources of Salt Lake County. These programs include vehicle emission testing for both gas and diesel powered vehicles, air monitoring, a smoking vehicle hot line, and stationary source controls. Educational programs are also available to local schools and groups interested in improving the quality of our air. Additionally, motor vehicles are responsible for more than 65% of all air pollution in Salt Lake County. To help ensure air quality, the SLVHD Emissions Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) program requires annual emissions inspections of vehicles in the County. |
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