Thursday, Oct. 30, 2003 | 11:31 a.m.
The smoke irritation Las Vegans are experiencing may get worse over the next couple of days, depending on the wind.
Clark County air quality officials' health advisory warning to stay indoors remains in effect today, and health practitioners throughout the valley have seen an increase in respiratory complaints caused by the growing haze.
The longer the smoke remains in the valley the more individuals will experience irritation of the eyes, nose and lungs, but no one should experience lasting effects, said Lisa Fasano, spokeswoman for Region 9 of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Some air monitoring stations throughout the Las Vegas area, and even in usually clear Boulder City, reported unhealthful to extremely unhealthful levels of particulates from smoke Wednesday.
Most people, however, will experience only mild irritation, if any, that will cease once they move indoors, Fasano said.
"The heaviest impacts of the smoke will be felt in California, but the residual effects of the smoke will be as an irritant, an eye and lung irritant," Fasano said. "It shouldn't cause any lasting effect."
Children, the elderly, people with asthma, emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are at a higher risk for developing respiratory symptoms and should exercise greater caution.
Air quality officials feared that if the wind picked up to higher than 30 mph, it could add substantial amounts of dust into the already polluted skies.
"That's one of the reasons we did an advisory because it is a double whammy," said Ron Smolinski, Clark County Air Quality spokesman. "Between the particulates from the smoke and the particulates from the dust it could get very ugly."
In contrast, lower levels of wind can actually help disperse the particulates in the air and keep the pollution from concentrating near the ground, where people are breathing, Smolinski said.
The National Weather Service measured winds upward of 44 mph during the morning commute. They expected 25-35 mph winds blowing eastward from the southwest throughout the day, with isolated gusts up to 50 mph, meteorologist Charles Schlott said.
"Be prepared for strong gusty winds, blowing dust and sand," Schlott said.
There is a wind advisory in effect until 8 p.m.
Visibility at McCarran International Airport was 6 miles this morning, compared to 2 miles Wednesday afternoon, Schlott said.
Despite warnings to stay inside, most outdoor workers continued with business as usual. Several construction and landscaping companies said they were still on the job and had not received any complaints from their employees. The office workers, it seemed, felt the impact of the smoke more.
"A lot of us have colds because of the change of weather, so with the colds and the flus and the allergies this is just killing everybody," Chris Cormier, office manager for A & B Construction, said. "Most of my guys are out at the project site and they are just dying. But they are trying."
On Wednesday afternoon, Cormier said the site manager was continuously monitoring the situation for health complaints that would warrant shutting down for the day, but that at most some people were complaining of headaches.
Clark County School District officials took a more cautious note, with most schools keeping students indoors, even during recess. Most athletic practices were also moved inside.
Football teams preparing for the playoffs next week either canceled practice or focused on conditioning, coaches said Wednesday.
"It's not crucial right now to go out; we have an extra week," Palo Verde High School athletic director and football coach Rost Darwin said. "If the games were Friday night, coaches would be a lot more uptight. Right now they are just trying to get through the week."
Darwin's team was one of the few in the valley to practice outdoors. The practice focused mostly on punting, however, and the increased wind had blown most of the haze away from the area.
"No kids had any problem," Darwin said.
The only high school athletic game scheduled Wednesday night was an indoor girls volleyball game, and school is canceled for teacher in-services Thursday and for Nevada Day on Friday. Most coaches thus found it easy to follow the advisory to stay indoors.
"It does take a day away from practice, but the health of the students is our main concern," Silverado High School Athletic Director Yvonne Arguello said.
The School District also kept a "close eye on students who have sensitivities," said Mary Stanley-Larsen, a district spokeswoman.
At McCarran, flights were delayed or even canceled Wednesday as the smoke rolled into Southern Nevada's skies.
"We have had delays and canceled flights due to the visibility here and the smoke in Los Angeles," airport spokeswoman Deborah Millet said.
By 8 p.m. Wednesday two Southwest Airlines flights, one to San Diego and another to Albuquerque, had been canceled due to smoky and windy conditions.
Tourists on the Strip were more frustrated with the demise of their view than of the possible impact of the haze on their lungs. Few interviewed by the Sun reported any irritation from the haze, though most said they could smell smoke. Those who did find irritation complained mostly of dry eyes.
"I feel a little icky, you know?" said Wanda Gilmore of Rochester, N.Y. "But to be out here walking so much, I am not having any breathing problems."
She did have problems snapping a photo of Paris Las Vegas' Eiffel Tower.
"I wanted it clear for the pictures, but there's a film of haze over everything," Gilmore said.
Other tourists sympathized with Gilmore's photography difficulties, and noted that the wind was more irritating than the haze.
"We're from New York, so this just reminds me of home," David Golmes of Brooklyn said as he waited for the fountain show to start in front of the Bellagio.
The main effects of the smoke, dust and chemical residue from the fires come from the irritation caused by the particulates in the air.
The local air quality office recorded unhealthy levels of particles in the air, with monitors on Craig Road and in Henderson recording especially unhealthy levels.
Health officials still warn that individuals should stay indoors, especially those who are prone to respiratory problems. Smoke can actually be more dangerous farther away from a fire because the particles tend to be smaller, said Dr. Zab Mosenifar, director of Pulmonary and Critical Care at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The smaller particles can be inhaled all of the way into the lungs, possibly causing more lasting effects and damage.
Individuals should especially avoid doing work or exercise outdoors that increases breathing because that will draw the particles even farther into the lungs, multiple doctors advised.
MountainView Hospital saw several cases of respiratory problems on Wednesday, including four people with asthma attacks brought in by ambulance within a two-hour period late in the afternoon, emergency room director Natalie Seaber said.
Dr. Mike Hutchins at the UMC Quick Care at 2202 West Craig Road said he expects such cases to continually increase over the next few days.
"I saw about 10 of them today, and I am still seeing them," Hutchins said. "All of these people are just starting to get sick today."
Seaber said anyone who has trouble breathing or tightness of the chest should see a physician, but that most individuals simply need to go indoors. Regular allergy medicine and saline solution for eyes can also help clear up symptoms such as runny noses and irritated eyes, she said.
In addition to staying indoors, the EPA's Fasano also recommends that individuals avoid any activities that will add to the pollutants and irritants in the air -- both indoors and out. This includes vacuuming or burning anything indoors, including candles, and mowing lawns or using barbecues outdoors.
Filter masks can help stop larger particles from entering the lungs, but those masks commonly sold to the public do little to stop the smaller smoke particles.
"They will help, they are better than nothing, but you shouldn't rely on those if you are asthmatic," said Smolinski, the air quality official.
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