Cache is struggling to clear its murky air

Last winter, pupils at Greenville Elementary School in North Logan were not allowed to go outside on five or six days, said Principal Joel Allred. He said he monitors particulate pollution hourly via computer on bad days.

When the levels hit 80 to 90 micrograms per cubic meter, Allred keeps the children indoors. He said children with respiratory problems are especially at risk.

"Kids who have asthma need to be in, period," Allred said. "Those kids do not go outside."

But he said it's not easy controlling hundreds of rambunctious youngsters indoors.

"Can you imagine 500 kids in a gym throwing balls?" he asked. "It's pandemonium."

Although many factors contribute to particulate pollution, Koford said automobiles are the main culprits. Internal-combustion engines generate ammonium nitrate, which a photochemical reaction turns into tiny nitric acid particles.

Cold air hastens the reaction, which is why particulate pollution isn't as bad where it's warm, like indoors. During the winter, an upper layer of warm air often traps a lower level of cold air between the Wellsville and Bear River mountain ranges.

The temperature inversions sometimes push the particulate level above the EPA's new threshold of 35 micrograms per cubic meter. Koford said the old standard of 65 micrograms per cubic meter was changed in December after studies showed that lower concentrations can cause health problems.

If state and local officials don't come up with a plan to reduce pollution, the EPA will impose a plan, Videtich said. Ultimately, if Cache Valley's air doesn't improve, the federal government could withhold funds for highway construction in Utah, Koford said.

So far, however, the EPA is pleased with local efforts. In October, the EPA gave the task force an environmental achievement award for its efforts to curb pollution.

"Cache County is way out front," Videtich said. "They understand that they do have significant problems."

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E-mail: mikewennergren@yahoo.com