A new University of Utah study on the impact of wood burning stoves and fireplaces along Utah’s Wasatch Front proves that 20-year-old restrictions have had a tremendous impact on the state’s air quality. “This study is showing a reduction in the contributions of wood burning by a factor of four or five,” says University of […]
A multidisciplinary team of University of Utah Health scientists has received a five-year, $3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to investigate how variations in pollutant-sensing genes in the lungs could influence air pollution’s effects on children who have asthma. The researchers say the newly funded effort could potentially lead to the development […]
Public transit has long been an answer for people looking to leave their car at home and reduce their air pollution emissions. But now, with better rider tracking tools, the University of Utah and the Utah Transit Authority can better answer the question: How much does public transit reduce pollution emissions? In a paper published […]
The first step toward fixing air quality challenges in the Salt Lake Valley is understanding how air pollution levels vary across the city. To that end, U researchers have previously placed air sensors in a van, on light rail trains and on a news helicopter. But to get an even finer view of Salt Lake’s […]
At the University of Utah, numerous faculty—representing disciplines across campus—are looking at various aspects of air pollution and related environmental issues. This is a list of some of those experts and their areas of focus. HEALTH SCIENCES • Robert Paine (Pulmonary Medicine) Robert.Paine@hsc.utah.edu 801-581-7806 Robert Paine is a pulmonary scientist with over 20 years of […]
Air quality has been associated with numerous adverse health outcomes from asthma to pre-term birth. Researchers at University of Utah Health found women living along the Wasatch Front — the most populous region in the state of Utah — had a higher risk (16 percent) of miscarriage following short-term exposure to elevated air pollution. The […]
What if you could see nasty microscopic air pollutants in your home? Engineers from the University of Utah’s School of Computing conducted a study to determine if homeowners change the way they live if they could visualize the air quality in their house. It turns out, their behavior changes a lot. Their study was published […]
Air conditioning and heating systems are not only great for keeping a home cool or warm, but they also help clean the air of harmful pollutants. While home thermostats control HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems based on temperature, engineers from the University of Utah have studied the effects of controlling them based on […]
For nearly 20 years, TRAX light rail trains have shuttled riders up and down the Salt Lake Valley, saving countless car trips and sparing Salt Lake’s air tons upon tons of petroleum-powered pollutants. And for the past four years the trains, operated by the Utah Transit Authority, have done even more for Utah’s air: They’ve […]
The University of Utah and Utah Clean Energy are proud to announce the launch of U Bike Electric, an electric bicycle purchase program intended to help more people improve air quality by cutting personal transportation emissions. The program offers U community members the opportunity to purchase a variety of makes and models of e-bikes at […]