Southern Utah construction is resulting in a scary reality for some
As Utah’s climate warms and drought intensifies, development in places like St. George is creating health risks we cannot ignore, a recent article warns. The Mojave Desert, home to unique ecosystems like the threatened desert tortoise, is being transformed into luxury resorts and sprawling communities. But the consequences extend beyond environmental degradation—dust from construction sites is spreading Valley fever, a dangerous fungal infection.
Valley fever is caused by inhaling spores from disturbed soil. Cases are rising in St. George, where rapid development and dust storms are exposing more residents to this potentially deadly disease. Construction workers, retirees, and others are falling ill, often enduring long delays in diagnosis and treatment. Meanwhile, outdated risk maps and insufficient awareness exacerbate the problem.
This is a stark reminder that how we develop matters. Encroaching on fragile desert landscapes not only endangers wildlife but also the health of our residents. As we face increasing challenges from climate change, we must prioritize thoughtful, sustainable planning that puts public health first.
Some pending developments in St. George include a controversial four-lane highway through protected land; luxury resorts; master-planned communities; golf courses; and even a proposed sports arena for up to 12,500 people.
UPHE was mentioned in the article regarding a warning we issued over plans for a new reservoir. “Foglia, an infectious disease clinician in Ivins, and others, including Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, worried that when water levels are low in the summer months, 47 acres of reservoir bed would be exposed, blowing dust and potentially, harmful chemicals and fungal spores, directly into neighboring homes. Here, it was not just climate change, but developers’ hasty responses to climate change-driven drought, that could dangerously amplify disease.”
UPHE’s Dr. Brian Moench warned the project could expose residents to PFAS. “I would say the PFAS chemical group is the single greatest potential health hazard in this whole battle that Ivins residents are engaged in the Dry Wash reuse reservoir proposal, because we know that PFAS compounds are in municipal wastewater. PFAS compounds and heavy metals, which we also know are in municipal wastewater, are probably the two most potentially toxic groups of hazards that those residents are concerned about.
UPHE urges action to protect our communities and ecosystems from harmful spillover effects of overdevelopment. Let’s make decisions that safeguard both our environment and the health of Utah residents.
