On the eve of Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, Utah health officials are again urging some Salt Lake City schools to keep children inside during recess due to soaring pollution.
State officials are urging residents to limit driving and outdoor activity, according to a report by the Associated Press.
A layer of dust pinned the Salt Lake Valley floor by cold air caused a national air quality index to rank portions of the state as having the most polluted air in the country for the third day in a row Tuesday, the AP reported.
State data showed that Salt Lake City exceeded standards for tiny specks of pollution known at PM2.5 (particulate matter) since Saturday, with Tuesday's reading nearly three times that of federal standards.
While such high levels can cause tightness in the chest and problmes for asthma patients, health officials were hopeful a winter storm would sweep out the particulate matter as early as today.
