UPDATE: Clark County’s Department of Environment and Sustainability has canceled its air quality smoke advisory, effective immediately.
Originally scheduled to expire after the weekend, forecasters with the department’s Division of Air Quality said shifting weather patterns led to the cancelation.
ORIGINAL STORY: The Clark County Department of Environment and Sustainability is issuing an advisory on Thursday through Sunday due to elevated levels of smoke and ozone in the area.
Officials say wildfire smoke from Northern California is drifting into the region and 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.
Exposure to ozone can induce coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath even in healthy people. A seasonal ozone advisory is currently in effect, according to Clark County.
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.
The Department of Environment and Sustainability says it monitors air pollution through a network of monitoring sites throughout the Las Vegas valley. Data is collected from these sites and reported online here.
