If you’re in El Paso, Texas, it’s a good idea to steer clear of drive-through lanes right now due to poor air quality. The National Weather Service (NWS) has reported that conditions are ripe for elevated ozone levels in the area.
Ground-level ozone is a pollutant that poses health risks, particularly on hot, sunny days when it forms from vehicle and industrial emissions reacting with sunlight. With this in mind, the NWS has encouraged El Paso residents to help reduce ozone pollution by carpooling, biking, walking, packing lunch, conserving energy, and ensuring their vehicles are well-maintained.
This advisory impacts western, eastern, and central El Paso County, including Downtown, West El Paso, Upper Valley, East and Northeast El Paso, Socorro, and Fort Bliss. An Ozone Action Day has been declared by the Texas Department of Environmental Quality, which is in effect from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. MDT on Wednesday, August 14.
Ozone Action Days are issued when weather conditions alongside pollution emissions suggest that unhealthy ozone levels are likely. Different air quality agencies may trigger these days based on various thresholds.
When high ozone levels are forecast, it’s generally best to minimize the use of polluting vehicles and to conserve energy when possible. Breathing in ground-level ozone can lead to several health issues, including coughing, shortness of breath, worsening asthma symptoms, and airway irritation, as noted by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Those particularly vulnerable include children, older adults, and anyone active outdoors. El Paso has recently experienced several Ozone Action Days, and locals were similarly advised on August 3 to avoid drive-throughs. In fact, some areas in Texas received similar warnings just last month.
The state monitors ozone levels and issues forecasts daily across nine metropolitan areas during the ozone-forecast season, which runs from March to November, with specific periods varying by location.