Be air aware before heading outside! Happy Air Quality Awareness Week
Be air aware before heading outside! Happy Air Quality Awareness Week from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
Spring is in the air; a time to open the windows, soak in the season’s colorful blooms, and explore Nevada’s inspiring natural surroundings. In recognition of National Air Quality Awareness Week, April 29 - May 3, 2019, the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) is encouraging Nevadans to “Check the AQI and Get Outside.” Throughout Air Quality Awareness Week, NDEP will be sharing helpful information and resources about Nevada’s air quality on the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources blog: dcnr.nv.gov/blogs. Look for new air quality related themes each day!
At NDEP, our goal is to promote air quality awareness and encourage our communities to check the Air Quality Index (AQI) to decide when it’s best to be active outside. What is the “AQI,” and why is it useful? The AQI is a tool public agencies use to report daily air quality, and it is derived from real-time measurements. The AQI helps the public understand what local air quality means for their health. For clarity and accessibility, the AQI is divided into six levels of health concern: good, moderate, unhealthy for sensitive groups, unhealthy, very unhealthy, and hazardous. As part of this effort, NDEP issues air quality forecasts every day to help Nevadans and visitors plan their outdoor adventures. Check the forecast for your area at airnow.gov, and sign up for email alerts and daily air quality forecasts at Enviroflash.com.
“The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection is dedicated to ensuring our residents can live, work, and play in a healthy, thriving environment,” said Danilo Dragoni, Chief of the Bureau of Air Quality Planning within NDEP. “In keeping with clean-air best practices, we strive to support Nevada’s vast outdoor recreational opportunities, vibrant landscapes, and unique ecosystems – today and for generations to come.”