If you’ve lived in Utah for any length of time, you’ve lived through a dust storm. We know dust is frustrating and Utahns want to know exactly what is in the dust and how dust may impact their health.
Right now, there aren’t any national “dust heavy metal health guidelines” to tell us exactly how an afternoon of dust affects our short- or long-term health. That is why Utah is being proactive.
We are gathering data now and will share it openly with health experts and the public. We want to provide the facts so that whether you are staying inside with filtered air or training for a marathon, you have the best scientific information available to protect your family.
Not looking for GSL dust research?
Report a local dust cloud | View compliance rules
What are we doing?
Understanding the impact of dust on air quality, especially for Utahns breathing along the Wasatch Front neighboring the Great Salt Lake.
Current dust research
Explore three initiatives tracking dust sources, heavy metal composition, and historical trends in Utah.
Dust monitoring (UDORN)
Learn how the 20-station UDORN network tracks dust sources, heavy metals, and public health risks on the Wasatch Front.
Great Salt Lake dust FAQ
Find answers to FAQs on Great Salt Lake dust composition, potential health impacts, and current monitoring data.
Dust health guidelines
Review EPA dust standards, understand the lack of national heavy metal guidelines, and see Utah’s proactive efforts.
What is Great Salt Lake dust?
Great Salt Lake (GSL) dust is airborne particulate matter composed of surrounding wind-blown desert soils, which may contain dry lake bed sediments from the Great Salt Lake depending on a storm’s direction.
Should I be worried about GSL dust?
Exposed Great Salt Lake dry lake bed sediments do contain heavy metals resulting from our activities over the last century and from natural environmental conditions, but the concentrations of these heavy metals in dust remains unclear. Currently, no federal EPA standards exist specifically for dust or heavy metal concentrations during short-term dust events. By proactively tracking dust chemistry, Utah is leading the way in environmental research.
Contact
Zacahary Aanderud
Dust Scientist & Coordinator
[email protected]
Contact for technical inquiries regarding Great Salt Lake dust and other dust research efforts.
Reporting immediate concerns?
If you see dust clouds coming from a construction site, gravel pit, or industrial facility, please use our dust compliance report form.