Summary: Ozone levels in Dallas-Fort Worth are the highest they’ve been in the past three years. And those numbers are not likely to go down to safe levels, according to the North Central Texas Council of Governments.
Latest Update: 12 November, 2024
Tags: #AirQuality
DFW ozone levels highest in past three years and not likely to go down to safe levels soon. Current Air Quality in Willow Park.
Ozone levels in Dallas-Fort Worth are the highest they’ve been in the past three years. And those numbers are not likely to go down to safe levels, according to the North Central Texas Council of Governments. [1] Willow Park is not much better. [2]
Willow Park Sources and Resources
[1] North Texas ozone levels are getting worse. Air planners don’t expect improvement, Fort Worth Report, 31 October 2024, Excerpts
Ozone levels in Dallas-Fort Worth are the highest they’ve been in the past three years.And those numbers are not likely to go down to safe levels, according to the North Central Texas Council of Governments.
After this story was published, the council of governments said although the number of ozone alert days has started to increase since 2022, that doesn’t mean the air quality in general is unsafe or dangerous.
Ozone levels in the metroplex averaged at 83 parts per billion from 2022 to 2024, according to data collected as of Oct. 21. That’s up from the 81 parts per billion of ozone calculated for 2021 to 2023 and the 80 parts per billion average from January to July. The design value is the average of the fourth highest value from a three-year period, according to the council of governments.
Levels ranging from 71 to 85 parts per billion of ozone are considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. So far in 2024, the Dallas-Fort Worth region saw 52 days where the ozone was 71 parts per billion or above.
The metroplex’s worst day so far was Aug. 8, when ozone levels reached between 106 to 200 parts per billion. The council of governments clarified that the highest levels of ozone on that day were 108 parts per billion in Keller and 107 parts per billion in Eagle Mountain Lake. This level of ozone is considered to be very unhealthy and everyone, especially children, should limit outdoor activities in these conditions. People with respiratory conditions, such as asthma, are to avoid all outdoor exertion and limit exposure by staying inside air conditioned spaces.
Dallas-Fort Worth had not seen a day where ozone levels reached 106 to 200 parts per billion since 2021, said Jenny Narvaez, air quality program manager for the council of governments.
“It’s not the trend that we would like,” said Narvaez, citing decreased ozone levels before 2024.
In 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated ten counties (Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant and Wise Counties) in North Central Texas as nonattainment for the pollutant ozone in accordance with the 2008 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
• Air Quality Index Animation. Find Willow Park Air Quality measurements
[2] AirNow > FortWorth
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