|
Air Quality Advisory Issued for Ozone from April 1 through Sept. 30
|
Air Quality Advisory Issued for Ozone from April 1 through Sept. 30
Clark County Department of Air Quality officials are advising residents that weather conditions and levels of pollutants may trigger a build-up of ground-level ozone in Southern Nevada from April through September.
At this time, unhealthy levels of ozone pollution are not occurring. Air Quality officials will continue to monitor conditions and will post an alert on the forecast page of the department’s website if unhealthy levels actually occur. A link to the forecast page is located at http://redrock.clarkcountynv.gov/forecast/.
Ozone is a gas that occurs naturally in the upper atmosphere and protects the earth from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. At ground level, ozone is a key ingredient of urban smog during the hottest months of the year in Clark County. Ground-level ozone can build up during the afternoon hours due to a combination of several factors, including strong sunlight, hot temperatures, and pollutants from automobiles and other sources such as transport and wildfires from Southern California and other areas. Unhealthy doses of ground-level ozone can reduce lung function and worsen respiratory illnesses such as asthma or bronchitis. Exposure to ozone also can induce coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath even in healthy people. When ozone levels are elevated, everyone should limit strenuous outdoor activity, especially people with respiratory diseases. Officials suggest these tips to help reduce the formation of ground-level ozone:
• Fill up your gas tank after sunset.
• Plan errands so they can be done in one trip
• Try not to spill gasoline when filling up, and don’t top off your gas tank.
• Keep your car well maintained.
• Use mass transit or carpool.
• Don’t idle your car engine unnecessarily.
• Walk or ride your bike whenever practical and safe.
• Drive an electric or hybrid vehicle, or low-emission scooter or motorcycle.
• Consider low-maintenance landscaping that uses less water and doesn’t require the use of gas- powered lawn tools to maintain.
• Turn off lights and electronics when not in use. Less fuel burned at power plants means cleaner air.
Detailed air quality conditions are posted in the monitoring section of the Department of Air Quality’s website. You can receive free text and e-mail advisories and air quality forecasts through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s EnviroFlash service at www.enviroflash.org.
|
|