The Clark County Department of Environment and Sustainability (DES) is issuing an advisory for Monday, Sept. 7 for elevated levels of smoke and ozone due to the California wildfires sending smoke into central and southern Nevada. DES Division of 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.
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.
STAY UP TO DATE WITH AIR QUALITY INFORMATION
The Department of Environment and Sustainability monitors air pollution through a network of monitoring sites throughout the Las Vegas Valley. Data is collected from these sites and reported at our monitoring website: AirQuality.ClarkCountyNV.gov. People can stay informed through a couple channels:
· Twitter and Facebook: Read air quality updates in your Facebook news feed or tweets. On Facebook: www.facebook.com/SustainClarkCounty and Twitter: @SustainClarkCty.
· EnviroFlash: Receive daily text or email messages with the latest air quality information. Learn more at www.enviroflash.org. The Dept. of Environment and Sustainability also issues advisories and alerts for ozone and other pollutants such as dust, smoke and other particulate matters.
· AIRNow: Check air quality forecasts, current conditions and the Air Quality Index (AQI) for Clark County at AIRNow’s website.