Comments about ‘Letter: Asthma inducer’

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I don't mean to be rude, but have you considered relocating to a location with environmental conditions more suited to your condition? That seems like it would be the prudent thing to do.

The problem is that inversions are natural, not man-caused. There is no way for us to prevent them or eliminate them once they've formed. What is most likely causing your health problems is that when an inversion occurs, all human-produced emissions are trapped in the valley. The obvious way to eliminate the pollutants that get trapped in the inversion is to not emit them. That would mean no cars, no buses, no trucks, no trains, no airplanes, no natural gas usage for home heating, cooking, or hot water, and no industrial activity. It would pretty much end life as we know it here.

A better approach would be to assess the causes of pollution and begin addressing them in a rational manner, balancing the economic impact with the health issues. But that takes time and must be done carefully to avoid throwing the baby out with the bath water. In the meantime, you should act to preserve your health.

salt lake city, UT

thanks for writing. it is only through people like you speaking out that change can come. hopefully sooner rather than later.

embarrassed Utahn!
Salt Lake City, UT

Utah's higly-moral leaders wouldn't let personal agendas get in the way of protecting public health would they?

Sandy, UT

Geez Pops, I wondered who would be the first to tell the author to love it or leave it. Inversions are natural, but having the worst air quality in the nation is not. Why not be the first to donate to pay for her and all the things she loves to move and be able to function in another environment. It isn't an all or nothing proposition Pops, we can do better and expect better.

Salt Lake City, UT

Three important considerations:
1. Reducing air pollution is not a process that is fast or straightforward. If it were easy it would have been done long ago, not just in Utah but around the world. Re-locating, as Pops suggested, is a more reliable short term solution.
2. Chronic sinus infection and asthma are closely related. Your physician may want to check that out. Rescue inhalers are not the answer.
3. Self righteous comments about Utah's leaders are not a solution.

Mom of 8
Hyrum, UT

When we were relocating to Utah, we purposely made sure we moved outside of the valley to avoid inversions. Yes, the air a problem, and one that's not going to be solved easily or soon. Part of the issue is geology, and that's a part that's not going away.

Quite often the solution to individual problems is to change the individual. We've moved from areas that weren't conducive to our standards and health, and perhaps this letter writer should consider the same thing instead of complaining about a problem that's been afflicting the valley since pioneer times.

Michael Matthews
Omaha, NE

And this is exactly one of the reasons why I live in Omaha. I was heavily recruited for a position for a good organization a few years back. I also have family that moved to Salt Lake a few years before so there is a personal draw too. But, I have asthma as does one of my sons and the air there is just too bad in the winter. It is a shame for SLC really because the organization still hasn't been able to fill the position adequately. There aren't enough employees for my particular speciality nationally so hiring me would have been a coup. As it was, I just rejected their offers to come out for an interview.

2 bit
Cottonwood Heights, UT

So what are we supposed to do to help you Karrie? Outlaw inversions... or outlaw pollution?

I think people ARE trying. But as long as the population in the valley keeps growing... it's going to get worse. Are we going to force some people to move out of the valley? And outlaw commuting to jobs in the valley? Shut down all factories and power plants.

What do you propose we do to prevent your asthma problems?


@ugottabkidn - I wish you had read my comment before condemning it, particularly the last paragraph. As others have also pointed out, solving our air quality problem isn't as easy as the legislature passing a law or the governor issuing an executive order. If it were that easy, it already would have been done. It will take time and money.

Most of us aren't severely affected by the pollution, but those who are should do something about it that will actually protect their health. Writing letters to the editor might help motivate corrective action, but it won't solve the letter-writer's medical problems. No disrespect was intended.

Pasedena, CA

To "Karrie Higgins" has your Doctor said that it was pollution induced asthma?

There are many ways of inducing asthma. You said that you exercise a lot. Did you know that your exercise could have caused exercise induced asthma?

Your asthma could be induced by an allergic to the trees, pollen, animals, or change in diet. This is the most common reason for asthma.

Your could be brought on by a viral infection.

Cold air, changes in temperature, and humidity can cause asthma also.

Some asthma is caused by moving to a higher altitude than what your body grew up in.

The point is, there are so many different and natural causes of asthma, that blaming the air in Utah for your asthma is about as logical as blaming the positions of the stars for an asthma attack.

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