Texans are being advised to steer clear of drive-throughs as ozone pollution levels rise in the state. This alert aligns with an “Ozone Action Day” declared by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for areas including Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston on Saturday, August 3.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has warned that weather conditions will likely create high ozone pollution in Dallas-Fort Worth on Saturday. To combat this, the NWS suggests carpooling, walking, biking, skipping drive-throughs, conserving energy, and ensuring vehicle maintenance.
Ground-level ozone, a major contributor to smog, is formed when vehicle emissions mix with sunlight. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ozone is a harmful air pollutant that poses health risks, particularly to children and those with pre-existing conditions.
High ozone levels can lead to respiratory issues, a sore throat, and coughing, especially for individuals with asthma or other lung diseases. The EPA notes that heightened ozone levels can lead to increased medical visits and have even been linked to respiratory-related fatalities.
Ozone Action Days occur during the “ozone-forecast season,” which runs from March 1 to October 31 across nine Texas metros. These periods are timed with warmer weather that can contribute to ozone formation, as highlighted by the TCEQ.
Recently, several Ozone Action Days have been declared, with millions in Dallas-Fort Worth being urged to limit car use. This week, an air-quality warning was also issued statewide due to a Saharan dust event that is expected to affect air quality across Texas.
For the upcoming weekend, the TCEQ has classified Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth at a “code orange” level on the EPA’s Air Quality Index, indicating conditions are “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” By Tuesday, air quality should improve to “moderate” levels.