Cow Effluvium and Vehicle Exhaust

Particle pollution during Cache Valley’s winter inversions is largely the result of tailpipe emissions from both cars and cows. Ammonium nitrate, formed by chemical reactions between vehicle exhaust and fumes from livestock waste, is trapped in the bowl-shaped valley by high pressure weather systems. Randy Martin, Utah State University engineering professor, advocates cleaner and fewer vehicle emissions as the best approach to wintertime pollution woes.