{"id":3864,"date":"2026-07-20T18:39:39","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T18:39:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=3864"},"modified":"2026-07-20T18:39:39","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T18:39:39","slug":"opinion-a-new-pioneering-spirit-facing-the-health-risks-of-a-drying-great-salt-lake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=3864","title":{"rendered":"Opinion: A new pioneering spirit \u2014 facing the health risks of a drying Great Salt Lake"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

After reaching the shores of \u201ca large lake of salt water\u201d in July 1847, Wilford Woodruff wrote that he and his fellow travelers concluded the Great Salt Lake was one of the wonders of the world.<\/p>\n

Read more Mom killed in flash-flooding incident remembered as fierce businesswoman, adventurer, mentor<\/a><\/p>\n

As Utah celebrates Pioneer Day 179 years later, it is worth reflecting on this resource and its impact on our economy, health and way of life.<\/p>\n

The Great Salt Lake has long been one of Utah\u2019s greatest natural assets, fueling the state\u2019s economy, enhancing snowfall, and supporting recreation and wildlife. But as the lake dries, it is becoming one of Utah\u2019s greatest health threats, exposing more than 2.5 million residents to toxic dust.<\/p>\n

Our responsibility to understand the risk<\/h3>\n

Salt Lake Valley residents already face elevated health risks from winter inversions, wildfires and other air pollution. These pollutants are linked to increased cancer risk and can worsen outcomes for people already living with cancer.<\/p>\n

As the Great Salt Lake recedes, the exposed lake bed releases dust containing heavy metals and other toxic substances into our air. As a physician-scientist and Salt Lake Valley resident, this raises questions I can\u2019t ignore: What does long-term exposure mean for our health, our children\u2019s health and our cancer risk? And how might it affect people already living with cancer?<\/p>\n

Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah is working to answer these questions. In the coming months, our researchers will study whether this dust increases the risk of blood cancers, blood clots and other blood disorders. Using Utah\u2019s unique research resources, including the Utah Population Database, our teams will examine cancer risk across the lifespan and collect blood samples from residents to look for early warning signs of blood cancer in populations exposed to Great Salt Lake dust.<\/p>\n

Read more Revolutionary War remains unearth the untold story of an orphaned teenage soldier<\/a><\/p>\n

Our goal is straightforward: help Utahns understand their risk and protect this remarkable lake.<\/p>\n

The beginning of a larger effort<\/h3>\n

At Huntsman Cancer Institute, caring for Utahns means more than treating cancer after it develops \u2014 it means understanding and preventing the factors that raise cancer risk. By identifying the health consequences of Great Salt Lake dust exposure, we can give policymakers and public health officials the evidence they need to protect residents.<\/p>\n

Drought, rising temperatures and increased demand for water make this urgent. Utah\u2019s response to the Great Salt Lake could serve as a model for other communities facing similar environmental health challenges.<\/p>\n

A Commitment to Our State<\/h3>\n

Huntsman Cancer Institute was founded to improve lives in Utah and beyond. When new cancer challenges emerge, scientific discovery remains our most powerful defense \u2014 helping us protect future generations and carry Utah\u2019s pioneering spirit forward.<\/p>\n

This Pioneer Day, let\u2019s celebrate what makes our state remarkable \u2014 the lake\u2019s pink waters, sunsets, migratory birds and free-roaming bison. As the Great Salt Lake changes, understanding its effect on human health is essential to protecting the people who call Utah home.<\/p>\n

Read more BYU officially announces 2026-27 nonconference schedule<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As Utah celebrates Pioneer Day, it is worth reflecting on the Great Salt Lake and its impact on our economy, health and way of life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3863,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3864","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guest-opinion"],"yoast_head":"\nOpinion: A new pioneering spirit \u2014 facing the health risks of a drying Great Salt Lake - American Movers Hub<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=3864\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Opinion: A new pioneering spirit \u2014 facing the health risks of a drying Great Salt Lake - 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