Las Vegas, NV (AP) - Clark County’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) has issued a season-long advisory for ground-level ozone pollution and wildfire smoke that will be in effect from Saturday, April 1 through Saturday, Sept. 30.
Air quality forecasters say the increased chance of wildfire smoke drifting into Southern Nevada can influence ozone formation as well as increase particulate matter pollution.
“In five of our past six summers, wildfire smoke has had a negative impact on Clark County’s air quality,” said Paul Fransioli, DAQ senior air quality forecaster. “Though the smoke influence was significantly lower last year, it still contributed to some of our ozone exceedance days in 2022.”
DAQ registered 14 days in 2022 when ground-level ozone exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS); a 50 percent decline from 2021’s total of 28 exceedance days.
According to the EPA, people who may be most sensitive to elevated levels of particulates and ozone include individuals with respiratory problems, cardiac disease, young children and senior citizens. Consult your physician if you have a medical condition that makes you sensitive to air quality conditions.