Las Vegas air not that bad compared to some

Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2003 | 11 a.m.

Bad air days j

The worst metro areas for highest number of unhealthy air quality days, 2000-2002:

1. Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif.

2. Fresno, Calif.

3. Bakersfield, Calif.

4. Los Angeles-Long Beach

5. Sacramento

6. Pittsburgh

7. Knoxville, Tenn.

8. Birmingham, Ala.

9. Houston

10. Baltimore

Source: Surface Transportation Policy Project

A study released Tuesday by the Surface Transportation Policy Project, a national group urging stronger air-quality protection laws, found that Las Vegas was not in the top 50 metro areas for the number of days with unhealthy air, percentage of pollution coming from cars and other vehicles, or days with unhealthy ozone levels.

Las Vegas recorded nine days of unhealthy air quality from 2000 to 2002, putting area residents -- especially children, minorities and seniors -- at greater risk from serious health issues such as asthma, cancer and heart disease, the study found.

Nonetheless, the local arm of the Sierra Club, a national environmental group that provides funding to the transportation organization, said the study shows that driving still has an impact on the health of Las Vegas residents.

J.J. Straight, the Sierra Club's conservation organizer for Las Vegas, said ozone and asthma problems are particularly worrisome here.

"We're 60th overall in the rank of cities with bad air," Straight said. "We do still have problems, particularly in the sense of asthma."

Asthma and pollution from ozone, a potentially toxic form of oxygen created from engine exhaust, heat and humidity, are getting worse in Las Vegas, she said.

"The Sierra Club is watching very carefully with our ozone exceedances," Straight said.

The report found that more than 13 percent of local adults have been diagnosed with asthma, 17th worst in the country. Other studies have painted an even grimmer picture.

A study by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released in 2001 and based on 1998 data found that Nevada had the highest rate of asthma in the country, with 7.2 percent of the population affected.

"The American public is starting to understand that ground level ozone is bad, and that it especially preys on the elderly and the very young," Straight said.

Straight cited work by the Clark County Air Quality Management Department and the Regional Transportation Commission, a regional agency that ties together local governments to plan and fund transportation efforts, for emphasizing mass transit designed to take more cars off the roads.

"The best thing we have going for us in Las Vegas are the alternative transit projects we have coming on line," she said.

The Surface Transportation Policy Project, the Sierra Club, the American Public Health Association and other groups released the report to urge Congress and the White House to both enforce and avoid weakening existing rules.

Straight praised Senate Assistant Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., for resisting those who sought to weaken air quality regulations. Reid said Monday at a Las Vegas summit on transportation issues that the White House and congressional Republicans are blocking needed funding for transportation issues, in part in an effort to gut environmental regulations.

"We really appreciate his leadership," Straight said. "We need to make sure that not only are we not weakening the rules we have now, we need to make sure that we are enforcing the Clean Air Act."

Carrie MacDougal, Air Quality Management assistant director, said Las Vegas' position compared to other cities is something to be pleased about but not taken for granted.

"It does indicate something we're doing right," she said. MacDougal noted that in the time period of the study -- 2000 through 2002 -- the Las Vegas Valley has not had a single surpassing of federal carbon monoxide rules, particulate matter or dust has shown a steady decline and ozone levels have held steady.

"We're pleased with the rating, although we want to caution everyone that with increased growth we are not out of the woods yet and we have to continue to be diligent."

She said her department does not fear changes in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules, including recommended changes governing air quality for metro areas such as Las Vegas.

"We will be looking at those changes and taking that balance into account for Clark County," MacDougal said. She said Clark County will always try to balance a strong economy with a healthy environment.