County issues air-quality advisory for holiday weekend

Figuring that wildfires and fireworks could lower air quality this holiday weekend, Clark County Department of Air Quality and Environmental Management officials on Friday issued an air quality advisory.

The advisory is in effect Sunday to Monday.

At midmorning Friday, no unhealthy levels of air pollution were present. However, air-quality officials will continue to monitor the levels.

Outdoor barbecues, local fires and fireworks produce smoke, which is made of small dust particles and other pollutants that can aggravate respiratory diseases and contribute to ground-level ozone formation.

Officials are advising people to fill their gasoline tanks after sunset, keep their cars well-maintained, use mass transit or carpool, not to idle car engines and mow their lawns after sunset.

They also suggest people limit outdoor exertion, run air conditioning to filter out air particles and change indoor air filters if they are dirty.

For more information visit the EnviroFlash website of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, www.enviroflash.info.