Clark County issued an air quality alert for the Las Vegas Valley on Thursday due to a buildup of ground-level ozone.
Officials said unhealthy levels of ozone are imminent or occurring in the Las Vegas Valley, as well as Apex and Jean outside the valley.
Ground-level ozone forms where pollutants such as nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and organic compounds react in the atmosphere in the presence of heat and sunlight.
At ground level, ozone is a key ingredient of urban smog during the hottest months of the year in Clark County, officials said. Ground-level ozone can build up during the afternoon hours due to a combination of several factors, including sunlight, warm temperatures and pollutants from automobiles.
Unhealthy doses of ground-level ozone can reduce lung function and worsen respiratory illnesses such as asthma or bronchitis, officials said.
To lower the levels of ground-level ozone, Clark County officials suggest filling gas tanks at night, using mass transit or carpooling, and mowing lawns after sunset.
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy