UPHE stories and expertise on GSL and our health
Helena Huizenga, a free lance writer, had a compelling and eye opening piece in Sierra, the Sierra Club’s Magazine. She reached out to UPHE after hearing Dr. Courtney Henley, UPHE board member, speak at an Earth Day event.
“The medical urgency arises from the pervasive nature of the threat. All living beings will inhale blowing lakebed dust, and every human resident in the path of blowing dust is impacted,” Dr. Henley said at the rally. When Huizenga followed up, Dr. Henley told her “Most of the toxins are the result of centuries of industrial pollution that have deposited arsenic, mercury, and lead in the lake bottom. Pregnant women and children are particularly vulnerable because of increased blood flow to growing tissues and the higher respiratory rates in children. Their rapidly dividing DNA is more susceptible to mutation caused by air pollution. And elderly people are more at risk because they often have underlying diseases and weaker immune systems.”
She also asked for any personal experiences with the air quality in the valley, and I was able to share my story of developing uncontrollable asthma. “The dust has been awful,” I told her. “Unless you’ve experienced it, it’s hard to describe how scary it is to feel like you can’t get a full breath.”
Huizenga also interviewed a Salt Lake City based therapist who has felt physical impacts of poor air quality, and acknowledges the toll of these pollution induced effects on mental-health. We share a similar story of a hesitance to recreate or exercise outside, something we both enjoyed before our health was impacted.
HEPA purifiers can help, especially in your bedroom. Wearing a mask outside helps reduce the impact of poor air as well. If you have conditions like asthma, be sure to check the air quality before you do outdoor activities, and have your inhaler at the ready.
