In Las Vegas, a city filled with entertainment, people seem to forget about the invisible danger of air pollution. In the State of the Air report by the American Lung Association evaluating cities on different categories of air pollution, Las Vegas ranked as the 12th worst city for ozone pollution. With ozone pollution comes several health risks, but it is preventable through a couple routines.
But first, what exactly is the phenomenon affecting our city? Ozone is a pollutant that forms from a chemical reaction triggered by sunlight and other pollutants released from factories, cars, and power plants. Ozone in the stratosphere actually protects us by blocking harmful UV wavelengths. However, at ground level, ozone becomes a pollutant that is toxic for us to breathe in. Las Vegas contains large amounts of these ground level ozone due to its geography and growing population. Because Las Vegas is a desert, it receives plenty of sunlight to interact with pollutants emitted by heavy traffic, hastening ozone formation. Since Las Vegas is also surrounded by mountains, it is difficult for fresh air to replace the polluted air, thus reducing air circulation and trapping ozone in Las Vegas.
Inhaling ozone can have serious effects on our bodies, especially for certain groups. Ozone targets the respiratory system, damaging our airways and causing difficulty breathing. It can also worsen respiratory diseases such as asthma. While anyone can have such effects from ozone inhalation, the elderly, children, people with respiratory conditions, and those who stay outdoors for an extended period are more vulnerable. However, children are at the greatest risk due to their fast breathing rate allowing them to inhale more ozone and their developing lungs being more sensitive than other groups.
There are several ways to avoid such toxic air, or even reduce it. A simple solution is to check the air quality before going outside. Air-quality specific apps, such as AirAwarenessAlert, or even the weather app provides the air quality level for you to check if it’s on a safe range. Another thing you can do is to avoid exercise in the afternoon. While it can be hard to resist exercising on a bright summer day, these days are when ozone is especially strong. More preferable options of exercise would be indoors. In addition, since vehicle emissions contribute to ozone, mitigating the use of personal vehicles through the use of public transportation decreases emissions from cars and reduces ozone formation.
Don’t let the bright lights distract you from the air quality problem Las Vegas faces. The heavy traffic and extravagant skylines that define the city also harm it. While human activity plays a big role in this environmental emergency, the city’s desert climate and surrounding mountains also make large contributions through the acceleration of ozone formation and blockage of dispersion. Exposure to ozone can have serious health risks, but it can be lessened through habits such as checking the air quality on your phone before going out and avoiding outdoor activities during the afternoon. As air pollution becomes a growing concern in many cities, we need to take action to limit it whenever we can.
Sources:
Air Quality Index Who Needs to Be Concerned? What Should I Do? Good (0-50), www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-12/documents/air-quality-guide_ozone_2015.pdf. Accessed 3 Jan. 2026.
Association, American Lung. “Press Releases: American Lung Association.” Press Releases | American Lung Association | American Lung Association, www.lung.org/media/press-releases/nv-sota-2025-lasvegas-release. Accessed 3 Jan. 2026.
Donzelli, Gabriele, and Maria Morales Suarez-Varela. “Tropospheric Ozone: A Critical Review of the Literature on Emissions, Exposure, and Health Effects.” MDPI, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 29 June 2024, www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/7/779.
EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov/AQNE/actions-you-can-take-reduce-air-pollution. Accessed 3 Jan. 2026.
EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov/ground-level-ozone-pollution/health-effects-ozone-pollution. Accessed 3 Jan. 2026.
“Unraveling Ozone.” Welcome to Clark County, NV – Home, www.clarkcountynv.gov/government/departments/environment_and_sustainability/public_communications/ozone-101. Accessed 3 Jan. 2026.
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