- Albert Garcia’s research reveals Great Salt Lake dust costs Utah millions economically, annually.
- Dust exposure not only leads to health issues, but also missed work and school days.
- Projected economic costs due to living with Great Salt Lake dust could reach $1 billion in 20 years.
Editor’s note: This article is published through the Great Salt Lake Collaborative, a solutions journalism initiative that partners news, education and media organizations to help inform people about the plight of the Great Salt Lake.
SALT LAKE CITY — According to new research, dust from the shrinking Great Salt Lake could cost Utahns more than just their health — it could also hit their wallets. A University of Utah assistant professor calculates the economic impact and explains what he found when it comes to the price of living with dust.
An interest in dust impact
New research suggests that dust storms coming from the shrinking Great Salt Lake are costing the local economy millions of dollars every year, and the findings started with an assistant professor’s simple question.
Sitting at his office computer on the University of Utah campus, Albert Garcia scrolled through a spreadsheet filled with hundreds of data points in the entry boxes…