Pollution persists along the Wasatch Front despite slight gains

Threat level: Ozone pollution is "a threat to human health at every stage of life, increasing the risk of premature birth, causing or worsening lung and heart disease, and shortening lives," per the report.

Driving the news: EPA head Lee Zeldin announced last week that he would propose repealing the Biden administration's 2024 finding that the Wasatch Front is in "serious" violation of pollution standards.

• The "serious" classification triggers potentially costly pollution reduction measures.

Catch up quick: Last year, Zeldin changed federal rules to make it easier for state and local officials to prove that pollution from elsewhere is contributing to high ozone levels.

• State officials say 80% of our ozone pollution is not actually caused by Utahns, but environmental groups have disputed that figure.

Reality check: Your lungs don't care where pollution comes from.

Zoom in: Salt Lake and Uintah counties ranked 17th and 23rd, respectively, among U.S. counties with the worst ozone pollution.

The big picture: More than 4 in 10 Americans are living in places with unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution.

• Climate change is fueling extreme heat, drought and wildfires, contributing to unhealthy air conditions nationwide, per the association.