News – Utah Physicians for Healthy Environment

Pollution Spikes from Fireworks

July 1st, 2020

The health hazard from fireworks is under appreciated by most people. Even though fireworks displays are relatively brief, the pollution is very intense, and can linger for several hours into
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Utahns need to be more proactive against lead poisoning

July 1st, 2020

UPHE’s Education and Outreach Coordinator, Bert Merrill, cowrote an guest opinion piece in the Deseret News with Claudia Fruin, founder of the Utah Lead Coalition, about the dangers of lead
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Brian Moench: American exceptionalism now means something deadly

July 1st, 2020

Dr. Brian Moench has yet another compelling Op Ed published in the Salt Lake Tribune. This time it is about what has become of American exceptionalism with the anti-science phenomena
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Urging a Mask Mandate

June 30th, 2020

The state epidemiologist has asked Herbert to order a statewide mask mandate. We urge you all to continue calling the Governor’s office, insisting he do that. Many of you were
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Port Authority Rubber Stamps Flawed Strategic Business Plan

June 23rd, 2020

Thanks to everyone who virtually attended the port authority’s board meeting yesterday. Over 30 concerned residents spoke about the plan, all but one were opposed. We were not surprised that
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Growing Correlation Between Air Pollution & COVID

June 15th, 2020

The connection between air pollution and the pandemic continues to grow. Evidence is mounting that the COVID virus can be attached to particulate air pollution particles. This opens the possibility
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Court Overturns EPA Approval of Toxic Herbicide

June 15th, 2020

A few days ago, an appeals court stood up against the Trump EPA for its continued siding with chemical companies and defiance of its mandate to protect public health, and
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Jonny Vasic’s Op Ed in the Tribune on the Port

June 8th, 2020

Our Executive Director, Jonny Vasic has a great Op Ed in the Salt Lake Tribune about the inland port. Read below or click here. Jonny Vasic: Port Authority spends $850,000
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White Coats for Black Lives

June 8th, 2020

We don’t engage in politics for any reason other than to protect public health. Last Friday, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers throughout the country, including at Intermountain Healthcare and
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UPHE’s Comments to the EPA: Reject the White House’s Proposal

June 4th, 2020

Below are the comments UPHE submitted to the EPA recently on the White House’s proposal to disqualify much of the world’s research on the health consequences of air pollution. Representing
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Inland Port Board Meeting

June 1st, 2020

The Utah Inland Port Authority Board of Directors met last week, the first time since October 2019. Dozens of concerned residents spoke out in opposition of the polluting port, including
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EPA Clean Car Rollbacks

June 1st, 2020

ABC 4 covered our first ever “virtual” press conference calling for all our Congressional delegation and all of Utah’s elected officials to insist that EPA restore the clean car standards
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Utah Inland Port Business Plan answers none of the critical questions

May 25th, 2020

(May 21, 2020 – Salt Lake City, UT) – The Stop the Polluting Port Coalition (STPP) states that the Utah Inland Port Authority Board has spent two years and millions
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A Demand for Strong Air Quality Standards

May 20th, 2020

With so much national attention focused on the pandemic, the White House took advantage of the opportunity to quietly launch another attack on public health by EPA. With the current
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Trump’s Rollbacks of Environmental Protections

May 18th, 2020

In the midst of the worst public health crisis in 100 years, the Trump Administration has already tried to roll back nearly 100 different environmental protections. Just lately they: Used
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A Victory for Water Conservation

May 18th, 2020

A major environmental and economic victory has been won for water conservation! After 14 years, the Southern Nevada Water Authority did not appeal the Nevada District Courts decision to block
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Indoor Air Pollution

May 11th, 2020

Indoor air pollution that originates in your own house may be even more important than outdoor air pollution. Starting about ten years ago, evidence emerged that natural gas appliances, in
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TRUMP’S EPA REFUSES TO IMPROVE AIR POLLUTION STANDARDS: THOUSANDS MORE WILL DIE

May 11th, 2020

(May 7, 2020 – Salt Lake City, UT) – Last week, the Trump EPA refused their obligation under the Clean Air Act to make national air quality standards stricter, despite
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The Many Symptoms of COVID

May 11th, 2020

Covid cases are continuing to rise in Utah. And the longer the pandemic goes on, the more we are learning that COVID-19 can be much more of a systemic disease
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It is too early to reopen dining areas – no question

April 27th, 2020

Fox13 asked Dr. Brian Moench to weigh in on whether it will be safe to open up businesses like bars and restaurants in Utah by May 1. This is a
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Stay at Home Orders Save Lives

April 20th, 2020

We recognize the economic hardship the stay at home orders has caused, but many lives have been saved because of the isolation and social distancing instituted so far. To put
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Op Ed: Who would really benefit from coal country proposals?

April 15th, 2020

Stan Holmes, one of the many community members in the Stop the Polluting Port coalition, wrote an excellent Op Ed in the Salt Lake Tribune outlining who would benefit from
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Utah Continues to Make Progress Against Lead Poisoning

April 13th, 2020

Lead poisoning is beginning to receive the attention it deserves in Utah. This past legislative cycle, Senate Joint Resolution 2 was passed which encourages medical providers who care for children,
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Air pollution increases risk of a fatal outcome from COVID

April 13th, 2020

Press Release (April 8, 2020 – Salt Lake City, UT) For years UPHE has cited extensive research showing that air pollution causes and aggravates virtually all the underlying diseases that
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Petition Against EPA Rollbacks on Refineries

April 8th, 2020

While the coronavirus pandemic continues to dominate our thoughts and the news, we want you to know that UPHE is still fighting for clean air in every way possible. Clean
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Wear a Mask in Public

April 6th, 2020

UPHE wants to be clear – if you go to public spaces you should wear a mask. If you have been confused about whether or not you should, you are
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Stress Cooking by Kirtly Jones MD

April 3rd, 2020

As a retired physician, I take the physical distancing recommendations during the COVID-19 epidemic seriously. As a Parker, my family is food-oriented and when we are stressed, we cook (I
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Doctors signed up to help, not to be abandoned

March 30th, 2020

Dr. Brian Moench wrote an Op Ed for the Salt Lake Tribune discussing what he expected when he became a doctor, and it was not a complete lack of reasonable
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A Call for Medical Supply Donations

March 24th, 2020

If you are a medical professional with extra medical supplies or a business with personal protection equipment and are able to donate, we urge you to do so. WHERE: The
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Medical Supply Shortage

March 24th, 2020

The public does not realize the gravity of the situation and the Federal Government is ignoring it. Hospitals throughout the country, including those on the Wasatch Front, are dangerously low
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Utah’s Air Quality Issue: Problems and Solutions

March 23rd, 2020

Although Utah is a land of outdoor wonders, the state has a distressing air pollution problem. In some areas like Salt Lake City, geography exacerbates the issue; air quality in
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COVID-19

March 16th, 2020

UPHE fully supports the calls from our state and local government to reduce potential exposure to the virus by any and all means of “social distancing.” Avoiding group activities, keeping
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UPHE Press Conference on Air Pollution

March 13th, 2020

On Wednesday, UPHE held a press conference summarizing the most important research on air pollution and health published for the past year, 2019. Read the full report. The Deseret News
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Diesel Brothers Hit with $850,000 Air Pollution Penalty

March 11th, 2020

Discovery Channel celebrities also banned for life from defeating emission controls in vehicles (Monday, March 9, 2020 – Salt Lake City, UT) –In a significant victory for cleaner air and the
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Port Bill Advances with Tweak for ‘Minimal’ Environment Concerns

March 4th, 2020

The Desert News covered House Bill 347 and the new tweaks that still leave too much ambiguity in terms of environmentally sound development. The inland port legislation (HB 347) making
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Negative Recommendation to Geneva Rock Expansion

March 2nd, 2020

Great news! On Thursday, February 27th, the Draper City Planning Commission unanimously voted to give a negative recommendation to Geneva Rocks request for a zoning change that would allow them
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Op Ed on the Coronavirus by Dr. Moench

February 26th, 2020

Dr. Brian Moench, UPHE Board President, had an Op Ed published in the Salt Lake Tribune earlier today addressing the coronavirus that is yet another plea to for the global
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The Terrible Port Bill Was Passed

February 26th, 2020

Thanks to everyone who showed up to the hearing yesterday on the latest inland port bill. The Salt Lake Tribune covered it and our Ex. Dir. Jonny Vasic is quoted
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Tooele Inland Port

February 12th, 2020

UPHE is concerned about the proposal to build a 10,000 acre inland port in Tooele. Proponents are suggesting it as an alternative to the proposed Salt Lake City inland port
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Fox 13 Air Pollution Reports

February 12th, 2020

Fox 13 did a short series of investigative reporting on air pollution in Salt Lake City and what causes it. The first in the series looked into the pollution that
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Repeal the Port Rally at the Capitol

February 4th, 2020

Over 200 hundred concerned residents came out today to make their voices heard. We give a big thank you to everyone who braved the biggest snow storm of the year
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Dr. Moench Op Ed: Clean Air and Education

January 27th, 2020

UPHE’s board president and founder, Dr. Brian Moench, has an Op Ed in the SL Tribune on a new idea on how to improve education for Utah’s school children. Even
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Report on the Port: Common Sense vs. the Utah Inland Port

January 27th, 2020

Last Wednesday, January 22, the Stop the Polluting Port coalition released its report outlining the potential environmental harms from the proposed Utah Inland Port: Common Sense vs. the Utah Inland
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KPCW: Replace Wood Burning Appliances

January 22nd, 2020

Jonny Vasic, Executive Director for UPHE, and Shellie Barrus, Executive Director for Summit County Habitat for Humanity, were on KPCW Radio to discuss the Burn Smart program and how Summit
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Stop the Uinta Basin Railway

January 22nd, 2020

UPHE is part of the Stop the Unita Basin Railway coalition, and we are happy to announce the launch of the new website opposing the Uinta Basin Railway oil train:
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Common Sense vs. the Utah Inland Port

January 22nd, 2020

This morning the Stop the Pollution Port coalition, UPHE included, held a press event for the release of our report outlining the harms that will come from the proposed Utah
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Update on Diesel Bro Lawsuit

January 15th, 2020

Here is the latest update on UPHE’s lawsuit to hold the Diesel Brothers accountable for illegally dismantling and removing pollution control devices from diesel trucks. “Attorneys for an environmental group
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Vehicle Related Pollution – Not all from the Tail Pipe

January 14th, 2020

We often hear about vehicle tail pipe emissions as our biggest air pollution culprit. To that end Gov. Herbert just made another plea for everyone to buy Tier 3 gasoline.
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A Victory against a Fracking Sand Mine near Kanab

January 14th, 2020

It’s easy to get discouraged about our environment these days. At the state and federal level it can feel like we are overrun by politicians and business people that seemingly
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KRCL: 7 Misconceptions about Air Pollution

January 10th, 2020

UPHE Execuative Director, Jonny Vasic, and President, Dr. Brian Moench, discussed our recent Op Ed about the seven deadly misconceptions about our air pollution on KRCL. You can hear the
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Australia Fires

January 10th, 2020

The apocalyptic wildfires now incinerating Australia continue virtually unabated with months yet to go in their “fire season.” The number of animals lost, like koala bears and kangaroos, is now
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Trump, Return to the Paris Agreement

January 6th, 2020

The Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health has prepared an open letter to President Donald J. Trump on their web page on January 2 asking him to make a
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Research on Air Pollution

January 6th, 2020

RESEARCH OF THE MONTH: UPDATED DEC. 23, 2019 Collected by Dr. Brian Moench To read full report with sources visit our New Research page here. Published in one of the
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Air Pollution from Drying Lake Dust

December 18th, 2019

A study just published by researchers at BYU shows that 90% of the dust that contributes to Wasatch Front air pollution comes from drying lake beds, like the Great Salt
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7 DEADLY MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT OUR AIR QUALITY

December 16th, 2019

Written by Dr. Brian Moench The Bible teaches that if we want to go to heaven we must avoid seven deadly sins — pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and
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Seven deadly misconceptions about our air quality

December 16th, 2019

In the Salt Lake Tribune, UPHE had an Op Ed written by Dr. Brian Moench that outlines seven misconceptions about air pollution. Read full list bellow. If we are going
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Measures to reduce air pollution quickly result in big health benefits

December 16th, 2019

New research reviewing evidence from around the world, shows that reducing air pollution can result in dramatic improvement in public health almost immediately, and the benefits can far outweigh the
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Coverage on the Demand for better EPA Pollution Standards for Plastic Manufacturers

December 9th, 2019

Recently, several environmental groups, including UPHE, delivered a petition to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) demanding that they stop approving petrochemical projects that produce millions of tons of plastic
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Doctors warn of long-term impact from short-term bad air quality

December 9th, 2019

POSTED 10:49 AM, DECEMBER 5, 2019, BY ELLE THOMAS, UPDATED AT 11:37AM, DECEMBER 5, 2019 SALT LAKE CITY — While bad air quality continues to plague parts of the Wasatch Front, doctors
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Lack of Oil & Gas Industry Oversight by the State

December 5th, 2019

Utah made it to the national news again, and not in a good way. UPHE is mentioned in a story by Bloomberg news about the scandalous lack of oversight of
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The EPA’s Failure: Chemical Disasters

December 2nd, 2019

During the Obama Administration the EPA put a new Chemical Disaster Rule in place to strengthen chemical plants’ prevention and preparedness requirements for explosions and other catastrophes. The rule also
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We Don’t Want a Natural Gas Plant in Utah

November 27th, 2019

The Intermountain (coal-fired) Power Plant at Delta is scheduled to be shut down by 2025, and that’s a very good thing. It is currently the largest source of power for
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City Weekly: The Kids are Not Alright

November 27th, 2019

We are on the doorstep of our usual winter inversion season, and the forecast predicts inversion to begin next week. The timing of the The City Weekly’s lead article, The
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Utah Stories Interviews Dr. Moench about Air Quality

November 12th, 2019

On November 7th, Utah Stories did a lengthy interview with Dr. Brian Moench, UPHE president and founder, discussing the latest medical studies on air pollution. The studies demonstrate that poor
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Killer Pesticides for the Inland Port – Op Ed

November 4th, 2019

In an Op Ed in the SL Tribune, UPHE President, Dr. Brian Moench, explains how the pesticides that will likely be used for suppression of mosquitoes with the development of
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Lead Prevention Week

October 28th, 2019

October 20th – 26th was National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. Awareness of lead poisoning is important, especially in Utah where children and pregnant women are at risk as evidenced by
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Increased US Air Pollutants

October 24th, 2019

Fox 13 did a good job of addressing the national story that in the US, for the first time in many years, the air pollution is getting worse. This increase
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Port Board Meeting & Public Opposition

October 22nd, 2019

Thanks to everyone who came out to the official “port” meeting yesterday and either protested or testified. It is very important that the obvious public resistance to this “terrible, horrible,
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Mayoral Candidates & How the Port Became the #1 Issue

October 21st, 2019

The dirty energy inland port is THE issue in the race for Salt Lake City Mayor. Robert Gehrke of the Salt Lake Tribune gives a brief but important explanation of
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UDOT Turning the Legacy Parkway into a Freeway

October 21st, 2019

UPHE condemns the move by UDOT to turn the Legacy Parkway into just another freeway, increasing the speed limit and allowing big rig trucks. The Desert News published an article
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Press Conference Addressing Inland Port Construction

October 17th, 2019

UPHE joined other groups at a press conference on October 16, 2019 in calling for an immediate cessation of warehouse construction activity in the one area within the port boundaries
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Envision Utah’s Report on the Port

October 15th, 2019

Envision Utah released their 241-page report about the public perception of the Utah Inland Port, and the feedback from the report was overwhelmingly clear: Utahns are concerned about the environmental impacts the
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Dioxins

October 9th, 2019

Dioxins have long been recognized as near the top of a long list of the most toxic chemicals. Human exposure to dioxins comes from industrial emissions, incinerators, and wood and
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Fixing illegally modified diesel trucks

September 25th, 2019

Ogden Standard Examiner ran a nice article about the status of our lawsuit against the Diesel Brothers. This new development is the agreement that UPHE signed with Davis County to
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Letter: Myths about the inland port

September 24th, 2019

This is in response to the guest editorial by Mr. Derek Miller, Port Board Authority Chairman, that appeared in the Deseret News on August 28. As the leaders of several
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Mosquitoes are a big problem for the inland port

September 20th, 2019

On the front page of Sunday’s Salt Lake Tribune there is an important article on an inland port issue that so far has gotten much less attention than it deserves.
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2019 SLC VegFest

September 16th, 2019

Jonny, Georgie, and Bert had a great time representing UPHE at the 2019 SLC VegFest on Saturday, September 14th. We were able to education festival goers on two main topics
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Letter to Herbert on Rainforest

September 16th, 2019

On September 16th, 2019 UPHE, Center for Biological Diversity, Great Salt Lake Audubon, SLC Air Protectors, and Utah Moms for Clean Air sent a letter to Governor Gary Herbert urging
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Death by Coorporation on KRCL

September 16th, 2019

On Thursday evening, Sept. 12, our President, Dr. Brian Moench, and Executive Director, Jonny Vasic, were on KRCL’s radioactive program discussing “barefoot economics,” a more sustainable philosophy of economic growth,
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Utah physicians group suing auto parts store for alleged environmental violations

September 10th, 2019

“As a community, we should be doing everything we can to clean up our air,” said Dr. Brian Moench, the president of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment. “I think
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Utah Physicians Sue 4 Wheel Parts

September 6th, 2019

Utah Physicians Sue 4 Wheel Parts for Selling Pollution Control Defeat Devices 4 Wheel Parts charged with selling and installing defeat parts that increase harmful air pollution along Utah’s Wasatch Front (September
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Clean out Utah’s Bad Air

August 29th, 2019

All air pollution matters. Even small increases cause significant damage to public health, affecting virtually all of us, even if we don’t have obvious symptoms. By Brian Moench Aug 29, 2019, 10:00am MDTFor
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The Amazon is Burning

August 26th, 2019

At UPHE we try hard to focus on state and local issues, and our number one priority is air quality. The important theme this week has been what air pollution
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Press Conference About the Dangers of Ozone

August 22nd, 2019

UPHE held a press conference on Tuesday, August 21, 2019 to discuss a new study from the Journal of American Medical Association that details the danger of ozone pollution, an
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Fireworks, Health and Air Quality

August 15th, 2019

Some people may not like to hear it or want to go without fireworks to celebrate the 4th and 24th of July, but these pyrotechnic displays also produce high concentrations
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Environmental groups raise alarm over mislabeled nuclear waste shipments through Utah

August 15th, 2019

By Lee Davidson · Published: July 29 Updated: July 29, 2019 Environmental activists say Utahans living near freeways and railroads may have been endangered by recent shipments of incorrectly labeled radioactive waste headed to
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Politicians and Pollution

August 15th, 2019

Politicians at every level play a huge role in solving or not solving our environmental problems, especially our air pollution. There is currently a controversy over some SLC mayoral candidates
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Eat Less Meat

August 15th, 2019

The latest UN report on the climate crisis spells out how meat intensive diets, poor agricultural and land use practices and deforestation are major contributors to the alarming climate trends.
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Pollinators and Pesticides

August 15th, 2019

According to a National Geographic article, “America’s agricultural landscape is now 48 times more toxic to honeybees, and likely other insects, than it was 25 years ago, almost entirely due
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Air Pollution and the Inland Port

August 15th, 2019

Written by Dr. Brian Moench Thousands of studies have established that air pollution is a broad-based health hazard, provoking a long list of diseases very similar in type and scope
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Ozone is Comparable to Smoking

August 15th, 2019

When UPHE was formed in 2007, we compared air pollution to smoking cigarettes. For example, air pollution typical of winter inversions was the equivalent of smoking cigarettes, about a half
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Groups sue over Alton Coal mine expansion in southern Utah

April 18th, 2019

By Amy Joi O’Donoghue, KSL | Posted – Apr 16th, 2019 @ 4:09pm SALT LAKE CITY — Multiple environmental groups teamed up Tuesday to file a lawsuit against the U.S.
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Trump Administration Ignores Environmental Impacts of Mining 30 Million Tons of Coal near Bryce Canyon National Park

April 17th, 2019

Lawsuit Seeks Improved Pollution and Climate Analysis of the Alton Coal Mine Expansion in Utah Tuesday, April 16, 2019 SALT LAKE CITY, UT – A lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s
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UPHE Prevails in Major Lawsuit

March 21st, 2019

Immediate Release Thursday, March 14, 2019 Contacts: Dr. Brian Moench – Board President, UPHE 801-243-9089 drmoench@yahoo.com Reed Zars – Attorney 307-760-6268 reed@zarslaw.com Jonny Vasic – Executive Director, UPHE 385-707-3677 jvasicuphe@gmail.com UTAH PHYSICIANS FOR
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