![]() Of the 10 most populous cities in the United States, only Chicago had a larger increase. Since 1997, emissions from transportation have increased by 27% per capita in the Dallas–Fort Worth area 6. What are some further causes of pollution in Dallas?ĭallas’s unhealthy AQI is primarily the result of transportation and industry emissions. Data is now available pertaining to this time period, which will be discussed in short. In 2020, lockdown measures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to have resulted in fewer cars on the road and slightly reduced industrial activity. Many health experts are advocating for even lower thresholds in order to save more lives 5. In recent years, ozone requirements have fallen from 75 ppb to 70 ppb in order to better serve at-risk communities. ![]() The US EPA, moreover, has made meeting targets more challenging by gradually lowering ozone standards. Pollution from increased vehicular emissions as a result of more cars on the road, poorly regulated industry as a result of loopholes and low penalties for breaching emission regulations and other sources combined with the area’s relatively high temperatures and stagnant air make Dallas Fort Worth an ideal incubator for ozone 4. The number of ‘unhealthy’ ozone days have increased from a weighted average of 5.3 days from 2014 to 2016, to 6.7 days from 2015 to 2017, to 8.2 days from 2016 to 2018. Since 2015, however, ozone levels have actually been on the rise. Ozone levels have wavered year after year, though a trend line shows significant improvement in the long term. 2019 was particularly off-trend, experiencing both heightened levels of PM2.5 and ozone pollution. ![]() This improvement trend has not been a straight line, however. Overall, Dallas air pollution levels have improved over the last two decades. Use Dallas’s forecast air quality data to plan ahead and avoid outdoor activities when pollution levels are expected to be high. In the two decades since ozone standards were established, Dallas has never reached its attainment.įollowing live air quality data in Dallas and taking action when pollution levels exceed standards is the best way to reduce your exposure to harmful air pollution. From 2016 to 2018, 8.2 days were deemed unhealthy for ozone pollution, more than doubling the 3.2-day national standard. The 2019 State of the Air report rated Dallas an “F” for ozone pollution for its number of annual days (weighted across two years) that exceeded ozone standards 3. Ozone (O 3) is another dangerous and prevalent air pollutant in Dallas. While many cities tend to experience elevated pollution in population-dense areas, Dallas frequently experiences higher pollution levels near the city outskirts, where the industry is primarily located. Observe real-time variations in particle pollution across Dallas county by exploring the Dallas air pollution map. In comparison, the city of Los Angeles, frequently regarded as one of the most polluted US cities, averaged 12.7 μg/m³, reporting cleaner air in 2019 than Irving and just slightly more polluted air than Dallas. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that annual PM2.5 exposure not exceed 10 μg/m³ in 2019, both Dallas and Irving failed to meet this standard, reaching annual PM2.5 averages of 12.3 μg/m3 and 13.7 μg/m³, respectively. Irving of Dallas county was the second most polluted city in Texas, trailing Longview by just 0.2 μg/m³. Exposure to PM2.5 has been associated with cardiovascular and respiratory disease, cancer, and early death 2.Īccording to the World Air Quality Report, the city of Dallas ranked fourth in the state of Texas for PM2.5 pollution in 2019. Due to its very small size, PM2.5 can remain suspended in the air for long periods of time and penetrate the lungs into the bloodstream when inhaled, causing far-reaching health effects. These particles include airborne dust, dirt, soot, smoke, chemicals, and metals, among others. PM2.5 is the term for airborne particles measuring 2.5 micrometers or less. More up to date information on recent air quality readings will be available further below in the article. A report by the Environment Texas Research and Policy Center found that the Dallas-Fort Worth area experienced 106 days of poor air quality that exceeded “good” AQI standards 1. In 2019, Dallas’s annual air quality index level was rated ‘moderate’, posing some risk to sensitive groups. As a result, nearly 1.5 million residents deemed ‘sensitive individuals’, including children, the elderly, and those with heart and lung disease were at heightened risk for experiencing adverse health effects. In 2019, Dallas failed to meet nationally mandated attainment levels for 24-hour PM2.5 pollution, ozone days, and annual PM2.5 pollution. Dallas is among the most polluted cities in the United States for both PM2.5 and ozone air pollution.
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