Help sought in ozone control

Friday, May 6, 2005 | 9:28 a.m.

Clark County government officials are asking residents to help control the ground-level ozone in the urban area as the heat and related smog arrives.

Ozone occurs naturally in the upper atmosphere and protects Earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays, but at ground level the gas becomes a key ingredient of urban smog when sunlight, combined with weather conditions and pollution, triggers its formation from May through August.

Exposure to ozone can induce coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath even in healthy people, and worsen respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis. When ground-level ozone levels are elevated, health officials recommend that everyone limit strenuous outdoor activity, especially people with respiratory diseases.

Ozone is one of three pollutants that the region is under a federal mandate to control. The other pollutants are fine dust and carbon monoxide. Five-day forecasts of all three pollutants are available on the Clark County Department of Air Quality and Environmental Management forecast page.

Air Quality say residents who may be sensitive to ozone can sign up for e-mail or pager versions of advisories through the county's free Direct Connect service. Subscription information about the service is located on the Public Communications pages of the county's Web site or via www.accessclarkcounty.com.

Air Quality officials issue advisories to local media, schools, government jurisdictions and the National Weather Service if poor air quality appears likely.

The public also can check up on the status of advisories by visiting Air Quality's online air quality forecast page. A link to the forecast page also is located on the front page of the county's website.

"These tools allow you to keep tabs on ground-level ozone and other air pollutants of concern in the valley so you can decide if you need to limit your outdoor activity based on advice from your doctor," said Christine Robinson, Air Quality director.

The county asked people to take some simply steps to help control ozone and smog, most of them relating to the fumes and smoke that contribute to the problem: