LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Clark County Department of Environment and Sustainability has issued a dust advisory for Thursday.
The county says the advisoryhas been issued to advise residents and local construction sites of the possibility of elevated levels of blowing dust due to the forecast of high winds in Southern Nevada.
Wind speeds of 25 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph were expected throughout the day Thursday.
Airborne dust is a form of inhalable air pollution called particulate matter, which aggravates respiratory diseases. Under windy conditions, people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children may feel better staying indoors as much as possible because they could be at greater risk from particulates, especially when they are physically active, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consult your physician if you have a medical condition that makes you sensitive to air pollution.
The EPA’s Air Quality Index translates air quality data into colors to help people understand when they may experience health effects from air pollution. An AQI of 101 or more is considered a level that may be unhealthy for sensitive groups of people.
The county also shared the following tips to limit exposure to dust:
· Limit outdoor exertion on windy days when the dust is in the air. Exercise, for example, makes you breathe heavier and increases the number of particulates you are likely to inhale.
· Keep windows and doors closed.
· Run your air conditioner inside your house and car to filter out particulates.
· Consider changing your indoor air filters if they are dirty.
· To keep the dust down, drive slowly on unpaved roads.
· Don’t take shortcuts across vacant lots.
· Ride off-road vehicles in approved areas outside the urban Las Vegas valley.
· Call Environment and Sustainability’s dust complaint hotline at 702-385-DUST (3878) to report excessive amounts of blowing dust from construction sites, vacant lots or facilities.
