Salt Lake City, United States - July 02, 2024

Recent research conducted by the University of Utah has highlighted the significant impact of wind-carried dust from the exposed bed of the Great Salt Lake on disadvantaged communities in the Salt Lake metro area. The study, published in the journal One Earth on June 21, reveals stark disparities in harmful dust exposure among different racial/ethnic and socioeconomic groups.

As the Great Salt Lake continues to shrink, leaving approximately 800 square miles of lakebed exposed due to more than two decades of drought and upstream diversions, the concentration of particulate pollution has intensified. This dry lakebed, known as the playa, emits significant amounts of dust particles, particularly during wind events, exposing nearby residents to health risks associated with fine particulate matter, or PM2.5.

According to the study, communities with higher proportions of Pacific Islanders and Hispanics experience the highest levels of PM2.5 exposure, while exposure is comparatively lower among white residents and individuals with higher educational attainment. This disparity underscores environmental justice concerns linked to the lake's declining water levels.

Lead author Sara Grineski, a professor of sociology and environmental studies at the University of Utah, emphasizes the potential benefits of restoring the Great Salt Lake to a healthier water level. Such restoration efforts could mitigate dust emissions, reduce disparities in dust exposure, and yield ecological and economic advantages for the region.

The study utilized data from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality’s air-quality monitoring network to analyze PM2.5 levels during dust events in 2022. It simulated different lake level scenarios, projecting that complete drying of the lake could significantly exacerbate dust exposure, while restoring the lake to a recommended level of 4,200 feet above sea level could lower PM2.5 concentrations during dust events.

“Our findings highlight the urgent need for environmental policies aimed at restoring and preserving the Great Salt Lake,” says Grineski. “By addressing these disparities in dust exposure, we can improve public health outcomes and promote environmental justice in our communities.”

The research team, supported by the National Science Foundation, also calls for expanded monitoring of PM10, larger dust particles that are prevalent in windblown lakebed dust. This would provide crucial data to better assess and manage the health impacts of dust pollution across the region.