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Dust, or Particulate Matter (PM) as it is called in scientific terms, makes quite an impact in Clark County. Over the last four years the countys Department of Air Quality and Environmental Management (DAQEM) has encouraged Southern Nevadans not to be a dusthole like its commercial character Dusty. Dusty was portrayed as constantly doing something to break the deserts crust, which not only released dust into the air but caused injury to the desert.
You see, the crust is to the desert much like skin is to our bodies. It keeps everything together and safeguards the ecosystem. Most people have no clue about the rich diversity of animal and plant life in the desert, or the role the desert's surface plays in maintaining that life.
The crust actually reduces the effects of the wind on the desert by cementing together fine dust particles. This fine dust, also called Particulate Matter-10 (PM-10), is dust smaller than the diameter of a hair on your head, and as you can imagine, can be very easily breathed into your lungs and even into your bloodstream. These particles also hamper your visibility by contributing to urban haze.
Because of tremendous growth, there are more people, more construction projects, more industrial sites and more vehicles of all kinds in Clark County than ever before. In general, there is more activity going on in the southern Nevada portion of the Mojave Desert. As a result of our progress, the delicate nature of the desert crust must be disturbed; but we need to be more careful about how and why we do it.
The Department of Air Quality and Environmental Management (DAQEM) is constantly monitoring and working toward maintaining our air quality, as well as developing regulations and programs to protect our natural resources.
According to DAQEM, desert crust forms in three ways: rainfall creates a light, temporary crust; algae and fungi growth creates a biological crust and a harder crust can form through a conglomeration of gravel and stones, often referred to as desert pavement.
Once the deserts crust is broken, an abundance of dust can be released into the air by the wind or other disturbances and we are then exposed to these microscopic particles that when inhaled can potentially affect our hearts and lungs Some individuals are more sensitive to the effects of dust and can experience major health problems, including asthma and bronchitis. In Southern Nevada, asthma has become one of the most prevalent respiratory ailments.
Dust can be significantly decreased, and we can all breathe easier if residents remember and act on any of the following five tips:
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Drive slowly, or avoid driving on unpaved roads.
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Stop taking shortcuts across barren land.
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Try not to drive on the shoulder of the roads.
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Fence off barren property or cover it with gravel, rock or desert-friendly landscaping.
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Only drive All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) or Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) in designated areas.
With all of us desert dwellers working together with the countys DAQEM to maintain good air quality, our community can breath easier. Be aware of the dust advisories that are distributed by DAQEM and broadcast on television and radio. Get in the habit of checking the Air Quality Index daily located on the DQEM website at www.accessclarkcounty.com/daqem. Act prudently, especially if you are in a sensitive group that is prone to allergies or heart or lung problems. Dont be like Dusty, the Dusthole; help protect your communitys quality of life by respecting the desert crust and keeping down the dust. Remember that once the desert crust is broken, it can take a very long time to heal.
The Department of Air Quality and Environment Management encourages the public to contact the Dust Hotline at (702) 385-DUST or to visit www.accessclarkcounty.com/daqem to report excessive amounts of blowing dust from vacant land, construction sites, or other sources.
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