Air quality in Las Vegas doesn’t seem like a big issue, especially for teenagers. Air pollution, however, is a serious issue that Las Vegas teens should at least be somewhat informed about.
There are three facts every Vegas teen should know about: the air quality in Las Vegas, the Air Quality Index and side effects of poor air quality.
The air quality in Las Vegas is inadequate, especially during Summer. Ozone pollution during the summer is significantly increased due to the presence of intense sunlight and heat. These factors promote chemical reactions that ultimately create ozone by reacting with other pollutants such as VOCs (pollutants emitted by paint, gasoline, etc..), which are released from cars and factories. Ozone pollution not only causes respiratory problems, but it also contributes to climate change, as ozone is a greenhouse gas.
Usually, air quality is shown based on the Air Quality Index (AQI). The AQI has specific measures to indicate the levels of air quality. Learning how to read the AQI can help you decide whether to stay indoors or go outside. In the AQI, 0-50 is considered good, posing little to no harm; 51-100 is considered moderate, posing harm for people with serious respiratory issues; 101-150 is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, posing harm for people with respiratory issues but not toward the general public; 151-200 is considered unhealthy, posing serious harm for sensitive groups and some harm for the general public; 201-300 is considered very unhealthy, posing a risk for everyone.
Air quality issues might seem indirect, and people may assume it has no effect on daily life. However, this is a misconception. Unhealthy air quality can affect teen health and decision-making in several different ways: fatigue, headache and cognitive issues. Exposure to poor air quality forces you to breathe in pollutants such as carbon monoxide instead of oxygen, leading to a reduced level of oxygen in your lungs and causing fatigue. It also can cause inflammation in your nervous system, which can cause headaches. In a study published by Nature Communications, participants who took cognitive tests after breathing in candle smoke performed worse than participants who breathed in clean air. This suggests that inhalation of high concentrations of pollutants are linked to impaired cognitive functions. If you find yourself struggling during the SAT or ACT, poor air quality could be part of the reason.
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