Normally, pollution is dispersed into the atmosphere or tamped down by weather effects, such as rain and wind. Despite optimistic annual averages, daily fluctuations are a cause for concern. Click here for information about all the monitoring sites. In recent years, Las Vegas air quality has averaged a “good” US AQI rating, indicating that residents generally breathe air that poses little to no risk to health. We will review the data in question. Track air pollution now to help plan your day and make healthier lifestyle decisions. Out of 229 metropolitan areas included in the American Lung Association’s State of the Air report, the Las Vegas-Henderson area ranked 9 for worst ozone pollution nationally. Las Vegas’s location in the Mojave desert makes the location more prone to windswept dust, including PM2.5 and PM10. There is a secondary NAAQS based on a 24-hour average of sulfur dioxide sampled from midnight to midnight, but this NAAQS has such a high starting point that is is never expected to be reached. The most common health effects of breathing high levels of ozone include chest pain, coughing, airway inflammation, and difficulty breathing. High temperatures, minimal precipitation, and a fast-growing population set the backdrop to Las Vegas’s unhealthy air quality. The plan has been devised to specifically help tackle Las Vegas’s worsening air quality problem. Transportation emissions, which emit the majority of precursor pollutants, should be targeted. This is the most current data, but it is not official until it has been certified by our technical staff. PLEASE NOTE:  Data in this table is collected from DAQ air monitoring sites, local agencies, and private monitoring networks. Each NAAQS pollutant has a separate AQI scale, with an AQI rating of 100 corresponding to the concentration of the Federal Standard for that pollutant. Las Vegas is the most populated city in Nevada and has experienced considerable growth since the 1990s. Ozone has also increased in recent years, from a weighted average of 20.3 unhealthy days from 2014 to 2016, to 30.2 unhealthy days from 2016 to 2018. Get your own monitor and help fill the gaps in air pollution data. Currently, only 1 to 2 percent of vehicles sold in Nevada are electric.4 Governor Steve Sisolak moved to implement more stringent auto emission standards following a precedent set by California, setting new tailpipe emission standards effective as of 2024 and requiring car dealers to sell a certain percentage of zero-emission vehicles. Other sources include transportation and construction, of which there is a considerable amount owing to Las Vegas’s fast growth. The AQI for sulfur dioxide is based on the peak one-hour measurement since midnight. (2019). Average Weather Data for Las Vegas, Nevada. Help keep air quality good by biking to work and enjoying outdoor activities. Please select the information that is incorrect. Data is collected from Clark County Department of Air Quality ambient monitoring sites and may include data collected by other outside agencies. When calculating air quality for the current day, the Clark County DAQ uses a surrogate 8-hour average based on the current hourly average. For the 12-year stretch from 2004 to 2016, Clark County met daily attainment levels for PM2.5. The AQI for carbon monoxide is based on the peak eight-hour running average since midnight. The table is updated each hour and covers the period from midnight through the indicated ending time for today's data or from midnight to midnight on other days. [5] Census. AQI Source: Contains Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information 2020 and/or modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information 2020. * - There is no AQI associated with hourly ozone averages less than 0.125 ppm (125 ppb). While average pollution levels in the last three years have shown improvements, Las Vegas’s number of days qualifying as “unhealthy” for PM2.5 and ozone has been on the rise since 2016. In 2018 and 2019, December, January and November were respectively the city’s most polluted. [1] State of the Air – 2019. These individuals are more likely to experience severe adverse health effects and hospitalizations from heightened ozone levels. The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has provided a scale called the Air Quality Index (AQI) for rating air quality. The table above lists the current peak concentrations for each pollutant, the corresponding Air Quality Index (AQI) category, and the AQI ratings for each of the NAAQS pollutants that are measured real-time. Las Vegas, as one of the sunniest and hottest urban climates in the United States, has long struggled to reduce ozone levels, especially against the backdrop of a booming population.2. The long-term trends from 2000 to 2019 indicate subtle improvements in Las Vegas ozone and annual PM2.5 averages. Las Vegas air quality had previously been in attainment for daily PM2.5 from 2002 to 2014. Learn more about air pollution and your health. On average, Las Vegas gets 4.2 inches of rainfall dispersed over 21 rainy days.6 As a result, pollution removal from rain (especially particulate matter) is rare. From 2016 to 2018, there was a weighted average of 30.2 days of unhealthy ozone, and 4.3 days of unhealthy PM2.5.1 As a result of this “severe nonattainment”, Las Vegas was rated an “F” for both daily PM2.5 and ozone levels. Additional information about the AQI and how it can be used is available from the EPA's AirNow web site. (2020). We recognize our responsibility to use data and technology for good. Site information is available for each specific site by clicking on the site name. Localized Air Quality Index and forecast for Las Vegas, NV. Rainfall in Las Vegas, however, is scarce. © Copyright TWC Product and Technology LLC 2014, 2020. The AQI for nitrogen dioxide is based on the peak one-hour measurement since midnight. Open your windows to bring clean, fresh air indoors. These increases come despite improving average annual PM2.5 levels. Las Vegas air quality had previously been in attainment for daily PM2.5 from 2002 to 2014.