LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Clark County Environment & Sustainability’s Division of Air Quality is issuing an air quality dust advisory for Thursday, Oct. 15, and Friday, Oct. 16.
Intermittent winds are expected to begin at 8 a.m. Thursday, including wind gusts up to 40 mph, and continue through 11 a.m. Friday, according to the county.
EN ESPAÑOL: Se emite un aviso sobre la calidad del aire debido al polvo en el condado Clark para el jueves
Health risks
Airborne dust is a form of inhalable air pollution called particulate matter, or PM, which aggravates respiratory diseases, according to the county.
Under windy conditions, people with heart or lung disease, older adults and children may feel better staying indoors as much as possible, the county said. They could be at greater risk from particulates, especially when they are physically active, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
TODAY’S FORECAST: Gusty wind to pick up Thursday, with rain chances returning next week
The county advises residents to consult a physician if they have a medical condition that makes them 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, according to the county.
Tips to limit exposure
The county listed the following tips to limit exposure to dust:
- Limit outdoor exertion on windy days when dust is in the air.
- Keep windows and doors closed.
- Run air conditioners inside homes and cars to filter out particulates.
- Consider changing indoor air filters if they are dirty.
- Don’t take short cuts across vacant lots.
- Drive slowly on unpaved roads to keep dust down.
- Ride off-road vehicles in approved areas outside the urban Las Vegas Valley.
Reporting dust complaints
Residents can 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, the county said.
The county directed residents to its daily air quality forecast at DESAQMonitoring.ClarkCountyNV.gov, its social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram at ClarkCountyDES and on X at @ClarkCountyDES, daily text and email alerts at enviroflash.org, and the AIRNow mobile app for local air quality information.
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