Air quality in Carson City

What is the current level of air pollution in Carson City?

Carson City, officially the Consolidated Municipality of Carson City, is an independent city and the capital of the U.S. state of Nevada. According to a census, conducted in 2010, Carson City had a population of approximately 55,000 people. This ranked it as the 6^th largest city in Nevada.

In July 2021, Carson City was experiencing a period of poor quality air with a US AQI reading of 169 which placed it in the “Unhealthy” category. This United States Air Quality Index number is calculated using levels of six of the most commonly found air pollutants, namely, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide and both sizes of particulate matter, being PM2.5 and PM10. It can be used as a standard when comparing air quality in other cities around the world. If data is unavailable for all 6 pollutants, a figure can still be calculated by using what figures there are. The only record available in July 2021 was PM2.5 which was 90.2 µg/m³. This extremely high figure is more than nine times the suggested safe level of 10 µg/m³ by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

With such elevated levels, the given advice would be to stay indoors and close all doors and windows to prevent the ingress of more dirty air. An air purifier would be beneficial if one is available. Avoid exercising outside until the quality improves and if venturing outside is unavoidable, then wearing a good quality face mask is essential. The table that is published at the top of this page should help with that decision or download the AirVisual app for constant updates as to the state of the air.

What is the worst month for air pollution in Carson City?

Air quality can be very volatile and is easily affected by many variables so it comes as no surprise that it can change daily.

Looking back at the figures published by IQAir.com from 2020, it can be seen that the worst month for air quality was September when the reading was 36.3 µg/m³ which put it in the “Unhealthy for sensitive groups” category. The month before was slightly better with a figure of 20.6 µg/m³ which is classed as being “Moderate”. For the remaining ten months, Carson City had figures less than 10 µg/m³ which is the suggested target figure by the World Health Organisation (WHO). From March to June was the period of time with the cleanest air with readings of 3.3 µg/m³, 3.5 µg/m³, 3.8 µg/m³ and 4.3 µg/m³, respectively.

Historically, records pertaining to air pollution have been kept since 2017 when the WHO target figure was achieved with a figure of 6.8 µg/m³. The following year of 2018 saw a slight decline with 7.4 µg/m³ but still within the target. 2019 saw a significant improvement with a very low reading of just 4.9 µg/m³ but then it worsened in 2020 when it shot up to 9.6 µg/m³, the worst figure on record. This figure is quite surprising because of the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 situation. Many vehicles were temporarily unused as their drivers were not required to work from the office, instead they were furloughed and allowed to work from home.

This had the effect of drastically reducing pollution within the city center. Many small factories and non-essential production units were also closed which again lead to an improvement in air quality. Yet, for some reason, Carson City recorded the worst figure on record. We await the 2021 figures to see what the trend will be!

Where does this polluted air come from in Carson City?

Air quality continues to worsen recently, as a result of the Tamarak fire, with an "unhealthy" range in the air quality index throughout Carson Valley in Douglas County and moving into the Carson City area, according to local monitoring systems. Minden and Gardnerville had an Air Quality Index of 197, whilst Carson City had an AQI reading of 151. When air quality exceeds 151, it is considered unhealthy which means some members of the community may begin to experience health effects, with sensitive groups feeling more serious effects.

There are four main sources of air pollution and Carson City is no exception. The ratio of pollutants may vary from other cities depending on local environmental conditions. Mobile sources include cars, buses, trucks, trains and airplanes. The release of carbon monoxide at a high level indicates how much fossil fuel is burned. This also emits other toxic pollutants in the air. Stationary sources could include power plants, oil refineries, factories and other industrial facilities. Industrial activities emit several pollutants in the air that affects the air quality. Particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide are key pollutants that are emitted from industries that use coal and wood as their primary energy source for the production of their goods. Area sources are areas that generate pollution such as urban cities and rural agricultural land. Finally, there are the natural sources such as wind-blown dust, ash and debris produced through volcanic action and from wildfires.

Mobile sources account for more than half of all the air pollution in the United States and the primary mobile source of air pollution is the automobile. Not only from the emissions it produces but the dust it churns up as it moves through the city and also microscopic particles produced by the friction of the tires on the road and also from the residue caused by using the brakes. Stationary sources, such as power plants, emit large amounts of pollution from a single location, these are also known as point sources of pollution. Area sources are made up of lots of smaller pollution sources that aren't a major cause for concern by themselves but when considered as a group can be.

On the subject of air pollution, we always consider outdoor air pollution dangerous to our wellbeing but never talk about indoor air pollution. Household products cause indoor air pollution which can be 10 times more harmful than outdoor air pollution. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) found in paints, cleaners and personal care products such as perfume and deodorants are a reason for common heath issues. Risks such as asthma or other respiratory issues and lung disease are other issues cause by inhaling poor house air quality.

What can be done to lessen air pollution in Carson City?

Vehicle emissions are one of the major sources of air pollution. Join with your local community to think of ways to get things done that don’t require a car, such as cycles and transit systems. If you must drive, try to switch to electric vehicles if possible. Many cities are outlawing vehicles older than a certain age because they do not have the latest technological features which help reduce their emissions. This is especially important for older diesel-fuelled vehicles. Large heavy-duty trucks use diesel and are a major source of particulate pollution throughout the cities.

The most basic solution for air pollution is to move away from fossil fuels, replacing them with alternative energies such as solar, wind and geothermal. Coal is also toxic. When it burns, it emits substances such as mercury or arsenic and small soot particles that aggravate pollution. And, when we breathe, these microparticles affect our lungs and our heart, increasing the risk of attacks. But the worst thing about coal is how widespread it is. More than a third of the world's electricity is still produced from coal. It is still the biggest source of energy! Coal-fired power plants degrade air quality for hundreds of kilometers around and are sometimes located in the cities themselves, affecting millions of people who cannot escape the air pollution. We urgently need to get rid of coal and obtain energy from renewable sources such as wind or solar. Some countries are already doing this and that is why in 2019 coal registered the largest drop in its history.

Almost all cars run on fossil fuel which is either diesel or gasoline. And, like coal, burning fuel is expensive. Diesel and gasoline cars emit carbon dioxide and other gases that seriously affect us. Among them is nitrogen dioxide that comes out of the exhaust pipes which is one of the substances that most damages our health.

Governments can identify their main sources of outdoor ambient air pollution and implement policies to improve air quality and public health, such as: promoting public transportation, walking and cycling (rather than vehicle-dependent transportation). The promotion of power generating plants that use clean and renewable fuels (for example, not coal or fossil fuels), the reduction of the use of solid fuels such as firewood for cooking and heating, and improvements in the energy efficiency of homes, buildings trade and manufacturing industry.

What causes wildfires to start around Carson City?

Wildfires are uncontrolled fires that spread quickly and can destroy homes and the environment nearby. Most wildfires in the US are caused by human activity. If a spark happens in the presence of oxygen and fuel such as dry grass, brush or trees then a fire can start. Fires need lots of fuel to grow. Unfortunately, overgrown forests and thick vegetation can fuel a fire to grow out of control. The weather can also make fires worse. For example, drought, winds and extreme heat can make a fire bigger, faster and more dangerous. Natural fires are generally started by lightning, with a very small percentage started by spontaneous combustion of dry fuel such as sawdust and leaves. For a fire to continue burning and spread, it needs three elements which are heat, fuel and oxygen. Remove one of these and the fire will not survive.

What are the detrimental effects of air pollution on our health?

Exposure to high levels of air pollution can cause a variety of adverse health effects. Air pollution can increase the risk of respiratory infections, heart disease, stroke and lung cancer. Both short-term and long-term exposure to air pollutants have been associated with adverse health impacts. The most severe impacts affect people who are already sick. Children, the elderly and pregnant women are most susceptible. The most harmful pollutants for health, closely associated with excessive premature mortality, are fine PM2.5 particles that penetrate deep into the lungs.

Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) is the term for particles that are suspended in the air, such as dust, soot, smoke and aerosol. Large amounts of particulate matter are typically emitted from sources such as diesel vehicles, burning waste and crops and coal-fired power plants. Particles less than 10 microns in diameter (PM10) present a health problem because they can be inhaled and accumulate in the respiratory system. Particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) are called "fine" particles and pose greater health risks. Due to its small size (about 1/30 the average width of a human hair), fine particles can lodge deep in the lungs, where they can then pass into the bloodstream.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) is a by-product of high-temperature combustion processes and is present in power plants and vehicle engines. It is a toxic gas, irritant and a precursor to the formation of nitrate particles, mainly affecting the respiratory system, with consequent health effects which may include a decreased lung capacity, acute bronchitis and asthma.

Ozone (O₃) is another of these polluting particles present in the atmosphere. It can cause asthma, reduced lung function and various respiratory diseases.

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) is also present in the polluted air of large cities. It is generated by the combustion of fossil fuels and the smelting of sulfur-containing ores. The health effects are eye irritation, cough, mucous discharge, asthma and bronchitis.

Along with the aforementioned conditions, pollutants have other harmful effects on health that translate into different symptoms and/or diseases. They highlight the increased risk of premature birth in pregnant women, the high probability of premature death caused by the aforementioned diseases and the cardiovascular consequences caused by the low oxygenation of red blood cells.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂), together with airborne dust, soot and other elements, produces a low, dense cloud that hangs over regions with urban and industrial activity. This kind of cloud alters the air we breathe and, in addition, causes the heat of human activity to condense and the ambient temperature to rise.