In the News
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Utah Public Radio Friday, Jul. 17, 2026
New study reveals additional health risks from Great Salt Lake dust
New research shows two additional routes that toxic metals in dust blown off of the Great Salt Lake could move into soils, plants, and human bodies.
"No, it's definitely not just an inconvenience," said Janice Brahney, associate professor of environmental biogeochemistry.
Brahney supervised new research led by Molly Blakowski at Utah State University this spring.
“The Great Salt Lake is a terminal basin with multiple millions of people that live in the catchment, lots of industry, lots of activity in the catchment," she said, "so everything that we do, everything that we create, all the toxins we produce, all the different compounds, they all flow into the Great Salt Lake."