Millions in Texas told to avoid using their cars again

Millions of residents in Texas have been told to avoid using their cars in an effort to improve air quality.

It is the second time this month Texas residents have been asked to avoid using their cars.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) proclaimed an “Ozone Action Day” for the Dallas-Fort Worth area, home to around 8 million people, on Saturday, due to conditions that could boost ozone levels.

Ozone is considered “a harmful air pollutant” by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and can cause adverse health effects in children and other sensitive groups.

“Atmospheric conditions are expected to be favorable for producing high levels of ozone air pollution in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Saturday,” the National Weather Service (NWS) said on its website.

“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,” the NWS said.

The NWS also recommended that residents do not burn debris or other items during an air quality alert, as well as limiting the amount of time spent outside.

The first “Ozone Action Day” for the Dallas-Fort Worth area this month was proclaimed on Thursday July 11.

Ground-level ozone, the primary component of “smog,” forms when pollutants such as vehicle emissions are released into the environment and react chemically in sunlight.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies ozone as “a harmful air pollutant” that can adversely affect the health of children and other vulnerable groups.

Exposure to unhealthy levels of ozone can lead to symptoms like breathing difficulties, a sore or scratchy throat, and coughing. It can also worsen existing chronic lung conditions.

“Some of these effects have been observed even in healthy individuals, but they can be more severe in people with lung diseases such as asthma,” the EPA website said. “These effects may result in increased school absences, medication use, doctor and emergency room visits, and hospital admissions.”

“Studies in areas with high ozone concentrations also report links to deaths from respiratory causes.”

Ozone Action Days are declared during the “ozone-forecast season” in nine different Texas metropolitan areas, running from March 1 to October 31 in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

“Forecast seasons are determined based on when each area is likely to experience warmer temperatures and weather conditions conducive to increased ozone formation,” according to TCEQ.

The Dallas-Fort Worth area was experiencing hot and mostly sunny weather on Saturday, with highs of 96 F. Winds are expected to be calm, reaching 5 mph in the afternoon, according to the NWS.

For Friday and Saturday, TCEQ listed Dallas-Fort Worth at “code orange” on the EPA’s Air Quality Index, indicating that conditions are “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

The Air Quality Index for the area will be downgraded to “moderate” on Sunday before returning to healthy levels on Monday.