Officials are warning of increased amounts of ozone pollution in the air.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) announced that Ozone Action Days are in effect on Wednesday. The organization that this alert applies to is both the DFW area and Houston.
Ozone is a highly reactive gas that is formed naturally through interactions with ultraviolet light from the sun and oxygen molecules, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This gas also forms a layer of the atmosphere, known as the ozone layer that protects the surface of the planet from harmful solar radiation.
While generating positive effects high in the atmosphere and may not be noticeable to many this gas can be an irritant to one’s lungs and may pose rose a risk for those sensitive to it.
“Light winds, warm temperatures, sufficient afternoon sunshine, and/or elevated lingering background levels could be enough for ozone to reach the middle of the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” range on the south side of the Houston area; the lower end of the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” range on the south side of the Dallas-Fort Worth area,” said TCEQ officials in the alert.
Moderate levels of ozone are predicted for other cities and counties across the state. These conditions are predicted to persist in the DFW area until May 18.
Daniel Huckaby with the National Weather Service in Fort Worth said that the increased amount of ozone can be attributed to both man-made and natural causes, particularly in metropolitan areas with a great deal of commuters when there is a great deal of sunlight.
“What happens is a lot of the byproducts of combustion, whether you’re talking about cars, industrial facilities, or the pollutants that come from these, interact with the sunshine and creates ozone,” said Huckaby.
Huckaby said that these ozone levels typically build throughout the day and are “maximized” by the late afternoon and evening hours before decreasing with the night.
Huckaby said that Texans can expect more ozone action days to occur as the summer approaches and advises that those who are sensitive participate in outside activities in the morning hours when ozone levels would be at the lowest.
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