According to a study by Utah's Division of Air Quality, on-road vehicles in Utah account for 22 percent of particulate matter. This particulate matter can be harmful to citizens who suffer from chronic respiratory or heart disease, influenza, or asthma. Automobiles also contribute significantly to hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide emissions in my state. These two pollutants react in sunlight to form ozone, which in turn reduces lung function in humans and hurts our resistance to colds and asthma. In addition, vehicles account for as much as 87 percent of carbon monoxide emissions.
Carbon monoxide can be harmful to persons with heart, respiratory, or circulatory ailments.
While Utah has made important strides in improving air quality, it is a fact that each year more vehicular miles are driven in our State. It is clear that if we are to have cleaner air, we must encourage the use of alternative fuels and technologies to reduce vehicle emissions. Let me paint the picture on the national scale. Non-attainment status can be costly, whether due to the loss of federal highway money, lost economic opportunities, or the expensive measures required to reach attainment. These staggering figures paint a graphic picture of why we need to invest more effort toward the promotion of alternative fuels.