Summary
Millions of people in Texas are advised not to drive due to high air pollution levels. Air quality alerts have been issued for major cities like Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Austin. These alerts warn of dangerous levels of ground-level ozone, which can cause breathing problems.
Key Facts
- Air quality alerts are in effect for major Texas cities including Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Austin.
- The National Weather Service issued these alerts due to high levels of ground-level ozone, a respiratory toxic agent.
- High ozone levels can decrease lung function and worsen asthma symptoms.
- The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) advises reducing car use and conserving energy to help lower pollution.
- Ground-level ozone forms from chemical reactions between sunlight, oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- Industrial emissions, car exhaust, and gasoline vapors are major sources of these pollutants.
- Warm and sunny summer days in Texas are more likely to have high ozone levels due to favorable conditions for its formation.
- The air quality alerts are expected to remain until the end of Thursday, with updates available on the NWS website and EPA's AirNow map.
