Clark County Air Quality Notifications
Clark County’s Department of Air Quality (DAQ) is issuing an advisory for Tuesday, July 4 and Wednesday, July 5, for potentially elevated levels of smoke and ozone due to local fireworks. Air Quality officials say smoke is made of small dust particles and other pollutants that can aggravate respiratory diseases and contribute to ground-level ozone formation.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, people who may be most sensitive to elevated levels of particulates and ozone include individuals with respiratory problems, cardiac disease, young children or senior citizens. Consult your physician if you have a medical condition that makes you sensitive to air quality conditions.
Smoke is made of small particles and other pollutants that can aggravate respiratory diseases and contribute to ground-level ozone formation. Exposure to ozone can induce coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath even in healthy people. A seasonal ozone advisory is currently in effect.
Detailed current and past information on air quality conditions is posted in the monitoring section of the DAQ website: http://redrock.clarkcountynv.gov/forecast/. You can receive free air quality forecasts and advisories via e-mail or text message through Enviroflash service. Subscription information is available at www.enviroflash.org
SMOKE AND OZONE TIPS
• Stay indoors when you smell or see smoke.
• Limit outdoor activity and exertion when ozone levels are elevated – exercise makes you breathe heavier and increases the amount of particulates you may inhale.
• Keep windows and doors closed. Run your air conditioner inside your house and car. Air conditioning filters out smoke and particles.
• Change your indoor air filters if they are dirty.
• Schedule activities for the morning or evening when ozone levels are usually lower.
• Substitute a less intense activity – walk instead of jog, for example.
• Reduce driving – combine errands into one trip.
• Don’t idle your car engine unnecessarily.
• Use mass transit or carpool.
• Fill up your gas tank after sunset. Try not to spill gasoline when filling up, and don’t top off your tank.
• Keep your car well maintained.
• Consider landscaping that uses less water and gas-powered equipment to maintain.
• Turn off lights and electronics when not in use. Less fuel burned at power plants means cleaner air.
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Clark County is a dynamic and innovative organization dedicated to providing top-quality service with integrity, respect and accountability. With jurisdiction over the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and covering an area the size of New Jersey, Clark is the nation’s 14th-largest county and provides extensive regional services to more than 2.2 million citizens and 46.2 million visitors a year. Included are the nation’s 8th-busiest airport, air quality compliance, social services and the state’s largest public hospital, University Medical Center. The County also provides municipal services that are traditionally provided by cities to about 951,000 residents in the unincorporated area. Those include fire protection, roads and other public works, parks and recreation, and planning and development.
