Las Vegas air pollution decreases during COVID-19 crisis

There’s a silver lining to the COVID-19 crisis.

Air Pollution in the Las Vegas valley is dropping, according to the Clark County Department of Environment and Sustainability.

13 ACTION NEWS REPORTER KELSEYMCFARLAND JOINS US LIVE TOEXPLAIN WHY THAT IS AND WHATYOU CAN DO TO TRY TO KEEP ITTHAT WAY.MORE THAN EVER PEOPLE ARENEEDING TO GET OUTSIDE ANDGET A BREATH OF FRESH AIR.THAT AIR IS A BIT MORE FRESHAND THAT'S BECAUSE THERE ARELESS CARS ON THE ROAD.KEVIN MACDONALD: "HOW WE DRIVE,HOW OFTEN WE DRIVE CAN MAKE ATREMENDOUS IMPACT ON AIRQUALITY" KEVIN MACDONALD IS THESPOKESMAN FOR THE CLARK COUNTYDEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT ANDSUSTAINABILITY.PRE VIOUSLYNAMED THE CLARK COUNTYDEPARTMENT OF AIR QUALITY.THEIR DUTIES- DEEMED ESSENTIAL.KEVIN MACDONALD: "OUR STAFF ISSTILL OUT THERE PERFORMINGTHEIR REGULAR DUTIESDIFFERENTLY THROUGH PRACTICINGSOCIAL DISTANCING FOR THEHEALTH AND SAFETY FOR EVERYONE"STAFF IS MONITORING OUR AIR ATSTATIONS LIKE THIS.THE DAY GOVERNOR SISOLAKORDERED NEVADANS TO STAYHOME IS THE DAY AIR QUALITYSTARTED IMPROVING.KEVIN: "WE HAVE NOTICED ADECREASE IN AIR POLLUTION FROMTHE FIRST HALF OF MARCH TO THESECOND HALF OF MARCH.WHEN YOU LOOK AT AND COMPAREFEBRUARY TO MARCH OF THIS YEARWE SAW ABOUT A 33 % DECREASE INAIR POLLUTION AND THAT'SCONSISTENT WITH WHAT'SHAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY."SMOG.IN A TIME WHEN THE PUBLIC ISFIGHTING OFF A RESPIRATORYVIRUS A DECREASE IN OZONELEVELS IS GREAT NEWS.THE E-P-A SAYS EXPOSURE TOOZONE CAN IRRITATE YOURRESPIRATORY SYSTEM..CAUSING COUGHING, A SORETHROAT, CHEST PAIN ANDSHORTNESS OF BREATH EVEN INHEALTHY PEOPLE.KEVIN: WE ALL BREATH THE SAMEAIR SO THE CLEARER THE AIR THEBETTER IT IS FOR EVERYBODY"I ASKED IF WE WILL SEE OZONELEVELS SPIKE BACK UP ONCE LIFERETURNS TO NORMAL MACDONALDSAYS..ONLY TIME WILL TELL.HIS DEPARTMENT IS INUNCHARTERED TERRITORY..JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE RIGHTNOW.KM, 13 AN.A NEW MAP REVEALS HOW MANY