From the Lakebed to our Lungs: The Drying Great Salt Lake, a Case Study to Climate Change, Pollution, and Public Health

What happens when one of the West’s largest inland lakes begins to disappear? The consequences extend far beyond the ecosystems and shorelines that depend on it. As the Great Salt Lake shrinks, thousands of acres of exposed lakebed threaten to release dust containing fine particulates, heavy metals, PFAS compounds, pathogens, and other contaminants into the air breathed by millions of residents. In this timely presentation, Dr. Brian Moench, a physician, public health advocate, and founder of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment (UPHE), examines the Great Salt Lake as a powerful case study of the interconnected challenges of climate change, environmental pollution, and public health. Drawing on groundbreaking research and a comprehensive analysis of hundreds of scientific studies, Dr. Moench will explore the potential health, economic, and societal consequences of continued lake decline.

Please check the webpage for time.