Millions of people in Texas have been told to avoid drive-through lanes amid high levels of ozone air pollution in the state.
It comes amid an “Ozone Action Day” proclaimed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for the Dallas-Fort Worth area, as well as the Houston, Galveston, and Brazoria areas for Saturday, August 3.
“Atmospheric conditions are expected to be favorable for producing high levels of ozone air pollution in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Saturday,” the National Weather Service (NWS) said on its website.
“You can help prevent ozone pollution by sharing a ride, walking, riding a bicycle, taking your lunch to work, avoiding drive-through lanes, conserving energy, and keeping your vehicle properly tuned,” the NWS added.
Ground-level ozone, the primary component of “smog,” forms when pollutants such as vehicle emissions are released into the environment and react chemically in sunlight.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies ozone as “a harmful air pollutant” that can adversely affect the health of children and other vulnerable groups.
Exposure to unhealthy levels of ozone can cause symptoms such as breathing difficulties, a sore or scratchy throat, and coughing. It can also exacerbate existing chronic lung conditions.
“Some of these effects have been observed even in healthy individuals, but they can be more severe in people with lung diseases such as asthma,” according to the EPA website. “These effects may result in increased school absences, medication use, doctor and emergency room visits, and hospital admissions.”
“Studies in areas with high ozone concentrations also report links to deaths from respiratory causes.”
Ozone Action Days have been declared during the “ozone-forecast season” in nine different Texas metropolitan areas, running from March 1 to October 31.
“Forecast seasons are determined based on when each area is likely to experience warmer temperatures and weather conditions conducive to increased ozone formation,” states the TCEQ.
A number of Ozone Action Days have been announced in Texas in the last month, with millions of residents in the Dallas-Fort Worth area told to avoid using their cars in July.
An air-quality warning was issued for residents in seven regions across the state this week amid a Saharan dust storm.
A plume of dust from Africa will “likely be affecting most of Texas by Thursday with the majority of regions (excluding far West Texas) experiencing noticeable impacts on fine particulate concentrations,” the TCEQ said on Tuesday.
For Saturday, Sunday and Monday, the TCEQ classified Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth as “code orange” on the EPA’s Air Quality Index, indicating that conditions are “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
The Air Quality Index for the two regions will be downgraded to “moderate” on Tuesday.
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