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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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Texas officials are urging residents in some areas to use different modes of transportation other than their cars on Friday as ozone pollution in the state reach concerning levels.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has declared an Ozone Action Day for the Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Galveston and Brazoria areas because of high levels of ozone, also known as smog. Officials suggested that to help reduce the pollution, people should minimize the use of their vehicles.
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"Atmospheric conditions are expected to be favorable for producing high levels of ozone pollution in the Houston, Galveston, and surrounding areas on Friday," the alert posted by the National Weather Service (NWS) said. "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."
Newsweek reached out to the TCEQ by email for comment.
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The warning comes a day after California also experienced high levels of air pollution and warned people in Imperial County to delay visiting gas stations and using chemicals until ozone levels improve.
As of Friday morning, the Texas cities in question were experiencing moderate air quality valued between the Air Quality Index (AQI) numbers of 50 and 99. Air quality is considered "acceptable" at this level, although some people unusually sensitive to air pollution could experience impacts.
According to AirNow, a coalition between the U.S. government and tribal agencies that monitors air quality, Friday's air quality was expected to be the worst in southern California and southern Nevada, eastern Texas, and in parts of Mississippi and Tennessee. As of 7:30 a.m. Eastern time (ET), the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area had the sixth highest AQI in the nation at 84. The highest was Hidden Valley, Arizona, at 113.
Air quality changes depending on the time of day and weather conditions, the NWS said. However, there are factors that contribute to unusually high and persistent levels of ozone pollution, including "increased emissions of chemicals and faster ozone formation rates due to heat, along with low winds and stagnant weather," the agency added.
"Elevated levels of ozone—the predominant summertime pollutant—are likely to result in poor air quality in the afternoon and early-evening hours," the alert said on the NWS website. "Ozone air pollution can cause respiratory health problems, including trouble breathing, asthma attacks, and lung damage. Children, older adults, and people with asthma or COPD may be more sensitive to the health effects of ozone."
People also can conserve energy by setting their air conditioners to a higher temperature and limiting the use of gasoline-powered equipment, such as lawn mowers.
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