A common-sense message on the inversion

UPHE Board Member and Emergency Room Physician, Dr. E. Thomas Nelson, relays the following message on the current inversion –

We live in a deeply polarizing time. In our tribalist society, you’re often forced to choose between two extremes—anything in the middle is dismissed as unacceptable ambivalence. When tribalism dominates, we’re all pushed into echo chambers, seeking out a steady stream of information that reinforces what we already want to believe.

As someone deeply troubled by America’s “leaders,” I’ve declared myself politically agnostic. As a physician and scientist, I hold strong convictions about our air quality crisis here in the Wasatch Valley.

But since science itself has become a target of scrutiny, skepticism, and denial, I’d like to propose something different: forget the science for a moment. Set aside the overwhelming research on air pollution and its effects on our bodies. Ignore the sensors that track pollution levels in the Wasatch Valley. For the sake of argument, let’s pretend all of it is just lies, spun by one side or the other.

Let’s simplify this down to something anyone—whether 3 or 103—can agree on. Let’s rely on our own senses: our eyes, ears, and noses. When the air is so thick with smog that you can’t see more than a few miles, it’s reasonable to infer that the pollution levels are high. As cars, diesel trucks, trains, and planes belch emissions, we can literally see the pollution being created. These are observable facts. And surely we can agree that breathing in pollution doesn’t seem like a great idea, right?

So, when our eyes water as we step outside, when we can’t see the mountains around us, when our lungs burn with every breath, and when we can smell the heavy metals in the air—can’t we all agree that’s too much pollution? And shouldn’t we also agree that adding more cars, trucks, inland ports, mines, and interstates while scaling back protective measures will only make things worse?

I’m often confronted with the argument that the Mormon pioneers referenced the inversion. The implication seems to be that since it’s always been a problem, there’s nothing we can do about it, so we should stop complaining. But let’s use a little common sense. The pioneers weren’t driving diesel trucks, running freight trains, or flying Boeing 747s. Their emissions were negligible compared to ours. Yes, our geography has always made it easy to trap stagnant air, but does that mean we just throw up our hands and give up? Should we stand by while lawmakers pass misguided legislation and corporations pump out massive emissions, leaving our children unable to play outside at recess?

On days like today, it’s literally hazardous to go outside. But I believe there are solutions—and they’re not particularly complicated. I also believe people are inherently smart. Some of us are working on manned missions to Mars, and there’s even talk of inhabiting that inhospitable red planet. If we truly think we can pull off something that monumental, surely we’re clever enough to rehabilitate the planet we’ve already been given. To me, that seems like a smaller challenge than intergalactic travel.