We don't see people by their color out west - that's generally something practiced by people of color, not whites. Anymore, the only racists I know or read about are black.
Humidity difference? How about altitude: SLC altitude 4,266 ASL. I guess learning to breathe would be a good start.
How about Blue Skies and Stars instead of smog and haze? or CLEAR water. A couple who evacuated came through here and stayed in the campground.. interviewed in the paper one of the comments was about the lake -- couldn't belive the water was so clear you could actually see through it!!