"Last year, Clark County experienced 35 ozone exceedence days, that's more than a month of days in which the levels of ozone air pollution exceeded the federal standard. The American Lung Association is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. She said there is evidence that when air pollution is at the level that the EPA deems acceptable there are still impacts on public health. The raw ingredients for the gas pour out of the exhaust pipe of cars and then is cooked by the heat of Southern Nevada to create ozone. Two of the biggest pollution problems are ground-level ozone also known as smog and particulate pollution. We can make a positive change by opting for public transportation or carpooling, conserving energy at home and work, keeping car engines properly maintained, tires properly inflated, and try refueling your car in the evening when it's cooler outside. According to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) forecast, air quality will be unhealthy for the following areas on Monday, October 5: You won’t find a paywall here. Both ozone and particle pollution are dangerous to public health and can increase the risk of premature death and other serious health effects such as lung cancer, asthma attacks, cardiovascular damage, and developmental and reproductive harm. You’ve found a like-minded tribe that cherishes what a free press stands for. And as the climate changes and gets warmer, there are likely to be hotter and sunnier days, Leavitt said. For media interested in speaking with an expert about lung health, healthy air, and threats to air quality, contact James Martinez at [email protected] or 312-445-2501. Take the quiz to see if you should get screened. Copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. “State of the Air” 2019 also tracked short-term spikes in particle pollution, as these can be extremely dangerous and even lethal. Leavitt said that air pollution can cause significant health problems and even premature death. “In addition to challenges here in Las Vegas, the 20th-anniversary ‘State of the Air’ report highlights that more than 4 in 10 Americans are living with unhealthy air, and we’re heading in the wrong direction when it comes to protecting public health.”. "We want to make sure both of those standards – clean cars and smog standards – stay strong,” she said. LAS VEGAS (KSNV News3LV) - You don't have to live in Las Vegas very long before you realize the air can be pretty bad sometimes. "There is proven factual information that it does cause irritation of the development of the lungs but if you're an adult and your lungs are developed already, it can have an affect on underlying health conditions as well.". 1289 S. Torrey Pines Dr.Las Vegas, NV 89146, Main Number:  1-702-258-9895Toll Free: 1-888-258-9895. She said Las Vegas had 145 days of degraded air quality. LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Air pollution is taking a toll on our health and our wallets. Stop smoking for good - don't switch to vaping. Each year the “State of the Air” provides a report card on the two most widespread outdoor air pollutants, ozone pollution, also known as smog, and particle pollution, also called soot. Health organizations warn of the dangers of vaping. Compared to the 2018 report, Las Vegas experienced more unhealthy days of high ozone in this year’s report. The 2019 report also found year-round particle pollution levels lower than the 2018 report. “There is no documented safe level of exposure to air pollution," she said, "So even when smog levels are good or moderate as defined by EPA, a modest increase in that pollution results in more deaths.”. “Las Vegas residents should be aware that we’re breathing unhealthy air, placing our health and lives at risk,” said American Lung Association director of advocacy JoAnna Strother. However, the National Ambient Air Quality Standard is only for Nitrogen Dioxide, which has an annual and 1-hour standard. Stay informed. You’ve been successfully subscribed to our newsletter!

These particles are so small that they can lodge deep in the lungs and trigger asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes, and can even be lethal,” said Strother. The report analyzes particle pollution in two ways: through average annual particle pollution levels and short-term spikes in particle pollution. A new report says the air pollution in Las Vegas ranks among the worst in the country. Among the top-ten biggest population centers in the United States, the Las Vegas metropolitan area is near the top in bad air. The report found that Las Vegas had more days when short-term particle pollution reached unhealthy levels. While the report examined data from 2015-2017, this 20th annual report online provides information on air pollution trends back to the first report. “There are a lot of sunny days in Nevada so that helps to compound and make smog worse,” she said. Your tax-deductible donation funds lung disease and lung cancer research, new treatments, lung health education, and more. Las Vegas is second only to the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California area with more than 100 days a year of elevated air pollution levels. Many of these spikes in Las Vegas were directly linked to weather patterns like drought or to events like wildfires, which are increasing in frequency and intensity in many areas due to climate change.

"It's a very irritating particulate that we breathe in," Dr. George said. Las Vegas has the perfect mix to create ozone, Nolen said. The American Lung Association’s 2019 “State of the Air” report found Las Vegas most notable finding, such as “ranked as the 13th most polluted city in the nation for ozone pollution.

He studies how climate change impacts our health and says Nevada's ozone air pollution is some of the worst in the country. He told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the study "screams of bias," because it counted days that the EPA has labeled 'moderate' air quality days in its bad air quality count. And on the local level, Leavitt said Nevada needs to do more to use renewable energy sources like wind, solar and geothermal. Levitt said that smog can cause damage similar to a "sunburn in the lungs" and particulate pollution, which is extremely small, chemically packed particles, can travel into the bloodstream through the lungs.

"Trouble in the Air: Millions of Americans Breathe Polluted Air," by Environment Nevada, U.S. PIRG, and the Frontier Group, Climate Change Undercuts Air Pollution Improvements, 'Scary Moms' Are Part Of The Citizen War Against Pollution In Pakistan, Traffic Is Way Down Because Of Lockdown, But Air Pollution? The annual air quality “report card” tracks Americans’ exposure to unhealthful levels of ozone or particle pollution, both of which can be deadly.

Notably, those three years were the hottest recorded in global history. If you can spend another couple of minutes making a pledge of as little as $5, you’ll feel like a superhero defending democracy for less than the cost of a month of Netflix. "We have seen a 12 percent decrease in ozone since 2007. population centers in the United States, the Las Vegas metropolitan area is near the top in bad air. Visit Lung.org/covid19 for information and resources about coronavirus disease (COVID-19). “What we found in the report was that air pollution remains a threat to public health," Christy Levitt, senior director at Environment America's Research and Policy Center, told KNPR's State of Nevada. In a … This website uses cookies to improve content delivery. The Clark County Department of Air Quality says the region's air quality is better than you'd think and leaps and bounds better than what it was years ago. Read our simple and effective tips for protecting you and your family from the dangers of air pollution. A newly published study says air pollution costs Nevadans millions in health costs. Join over 500,000 people who receive the latest news about lung health, including COVID-19, research, air quality, inspiring stories and resources. Nationwide, the best progress in this year’s report came in reducing year-round levels of particle pollution. Pollutants, wildfires, and hot temperatures create a perfect oven for ozone air pollution. Our Tax ID is: 13‑1632524. “When older adults or children with asthma breathe ozone-polluted air, too often they end up in the doctor’s office, the hospital or the emergency room. ©2020 American Lung Association. That's a jump, almost doubling of the year prior," Limaye said. "This is a really significant, costly problem for people living in Las Vegas and Nevada overall," said Vijay Limaye, an environmental epidemiologist with the NRDC. In a newly published study, the NRDC says ozone air pollution led to 97 premature deaths, 114 hospital admissions, and $898 million in health costs in just one year in Nevada. Ozone is typically worse during the summer months. Select your location to view local American Lung Association events and news near you. LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Air pollution is taking a toll on our health and our wallets. This year’s report showed that ozone levels increased in most cities nationwide, in large part due to the record-breaking global heat experienced in the three years tracked in the report. With a failing grade from the American Lung Association, there's still some work to do to improve Clark County's air. Leavitt explained anything with an air quality index of 51 or higher was counted because the current EPA standards are not stringent enough. "The more we understand about the risks of exposure, the more evidence and reason we have to urgently act to address the underlying problem," Limaye said. “Particle pollution is made of soot or tiny particles that come from coal-fired power plants, diesel emissions, wildfires and wood-burning devices. “In burning fossil fuels like coal and diesel and gasoline, it creates both smog and particulate pollution,” she said. "The winds are erratic, so Friday is going to be bad," says Nicco. Not everyone agrees with the study's evaluation of Southern Nevada's air quality, including the manager of the Clark County Department of Air Quality Planning Division.

That's according to a team of researchers with the Natural Resources Defense Council. Plus, the warmer climate will likely result in more wildfires, which put more particulate matter into the air. Air quality was also bad further north in Mendocino County. Join the 500,000+ people getting our newsletter! This report documents how warmer temperatures brought by climate change make ozone more likely to form and harder to clean up. Ozone can even shorten life itself.”. He told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the study "screams of bias," because it counted days that the EPA has labeled 'moderate' air quality days in its bad air quality count. In the worst cases, long term exposure can lead to death. According to the Clark County Department of Air Quality, many of those exceedence days happened because of a bad wildfire season in California. Want updates on the latest lung health news, including COVID-19 updates, research, inspiring stories and health information? “As we have more global warming, we’re likely to see more air pollution," she said. Learn more about Las Vegas rankings, as well as air quality across Nevada and the nation, in the 2019 “State of the Air” report at Lung.org/sota. That's according to a team of researchers with the Natural Resources Defense Council.

An Angel Moroni statue sits on top of a spire on the Las Vegas Nevada Temple overlooking the Las Vegas Strip, Thursday, June 28, 2018, in Las Vegas.

Leavitt says the country needs to be strengthening air quality standards. Thank you! The annual air quality “report card” tracks Americans’ exposure to unhealthful levels of ozone or particle pollution, both of which can be deadly.

We've cut particulate matter in half since 2001, and we've had an 80 percent increase in carbon monoxide since 1982," said Public Information Officer Kevin MacDonald. Come as often as you like — we’re not counting.