Warning issued over blowing dust

Thursday, April 7, 2005 | 9:23 a.m.

Clark County Air Quality officials are warning residents and construction site operators of possible blowing dust sweeping through the Las Vegas Valley today and Friday and recommended that children and the elderly remain indoors if dust storms occur.

Officials are expecting high winds in Southern Nevada until Friday, and county air quality officials will post alerts on the county's Web site (www.accessclarkcounty.com) if unhealthy levels of dust is raised.

Residents are also encouraged to call the Clark County Air Quality dust complaint hot line at 385-DUST to report severe cases of blowing dust.

The county recommends that people drive slowly on unpaved roads, not to take short cuts through vacant lots and to fence off barren property or cover it with desert-friendly landscaping such as gravel or rock.

The county also warned the valley's residents to avoid using wood-burning fireplaces during high-wind times and to ride off-road vehicles outside urban areas in the valley.

Airborne dust is considered an air pollutant that can aggravate respiratory diseases such as bronchitis or asthma.