The Las Vegas Strip can be an interesting place to take a breath. First, since cannabis was legalized, it's pretty much impossible to avoid inhaling its smell when walking the Strip.
Second, the packed nature of most of the Las Vegas Strip has made it a space where even though you are technically outside, diseases can easily spread. That's at least partially why covid shut Las Vegas down for weeks and why you still see a lot of people wearing masks on the Strip.
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And, to make matters worse, Las Vegas also has incredibly hot (over 100 degree) weather in the summer where the air literally becomes hard to breathe. It's that last factor that figures heavily into the latest bad health news to hit Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Strip.
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Las Vegas Has An Air Quality Problem
Las Vegas came in near the bottom -- 192 out of 223 U.S. metropolitan areas -- on the American Lung Association's 2023 State of the air report. Based on data from the Environmental Protection Agency, the study showed that Sin City earned a failing grade with its highest-ever number of days with unhealthy spikes
"The Clean Air Act requires the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set health-based limits, called National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), for six dangerous outdoor air pollutants: particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and lead 'State of the Air' looks at two of the most widespread and dangerous pollutants from this group, fine particulate matter and ozone," according to the report.
The American Lung Association launched its annual “State of the Air”
report to provide the public with easy-to-understand information about the quality of the air in their local communities based on the credible data and sound science that EPA is required to use to set the air quality standards.
"Among the culprits are climate events -- extreme heat, prolonged drought, heavy dust storms, and wildfires -- all of which increase air pollution, said Melissa Ramos, senior manager of clean air advocacy for the ALA," told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Wildfires are also part of the problem as they blow smoke into Las Vegas from hundreds of miles away.
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While the dangers are most serious for permanent residents, short-term air quality spikes -- Las Vegas had 5.5 days last year that met those criteria -- can literally be deadly.
"Short-term spikes in particle pollution that last from a few hours to a few days can kill. Premature deaths from breathing these particles can occur on the very day that particle levels are high, or up to a month or two afterward," the ALA shared.
The Clark County Department of Environment & Sustainability pushed back at the report's conclusion noting that Las Vegas meets five out of six EPA standards for pollutants.
“While Clark County is not without air quality challenges, our data shows our community enjoys good air quality for the majority of the year,” Kevin MacDonald, the department’s public information administrator, said in an email to the paper.
Las Vegas fails to meet EPA standards when it comes to ozone. And, while ozone may not be as deadly as particle pollution, it's still a serious health concern.
"Ozone has a serious effect on the respiratory system, both in the short term and over the course of years of exposure When ozone levels are high, many people experience breathing problems such as chest tightness, coughing, and shortness of breath, often within hours of exposure. Even healthy young adults may experience respiratory symptoms and decreased lung function," the report said.
Many Las Vegas resorts owned by Caesars Entertainment (CZR) and MGM Resorts International (MGM) offer oxygen bars. Touted as a cure for jetlag and hangovers, oxygen bars do not reverse the damage caused by bad air quality.
In addition, since nearly every Las Vegas casino allows smoking, problems caused by the outside air can be exacerbated by inhaling smoke when inside. Park MGM is currently the only casino on the Strip with a total no-smoking policy.
