County issues holiday-related air-quality advisory

By Cristina Chang

Tuesday, July 3, 2012 | 9:23 a.m.

The upcoming Independence Day holiday provides an opportunity for barbecues and fireworks and with them, poorer air quality.

In anticipation, the Clark County Department of Air Quality is issuing an air-quality advisory for July 4 and 5, said Erik Pappa, director of public communications for Clark County.

As locals celebrate the holiday with fireworks and outdoor barbecues, the possibility of elevated smoke levels increases in some neighborhoods, Pappa said. Small particles and pollutants in the smoke can aggravate respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis and asthma, he said.

The Department of Air Quality suggests that children, the elderly and people who have respiratory illnesses spend more time indoors, wear a surgical mask and limit outdoor exercise at that time. People can also run the air conditioner to filter air. Using a propane grill will create less pollution than charcoal grills, the department also noted.

Pappa said that pollution typically increases throughout the evening of July 4 and that in previous years, smoke levels have exceeded healthy levels. He added that normal air quality levels should return by the afternoon of July 5.

Air quality officials will be posting alerts on unhealthy levels of air quality at http://redrock.co.clark.nv.us/forecast.