North Texas' air quality problem
requires regional solutions
Nonattainment classification for 8-hour ozone levels
Nine counties are classified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as moderate nonattainment for 8-hour ozone levels.
Collin County
Dallas County
Denton County
Ellis County
Johnson County |
Kaufman County
Parker County
Rockwall County
Tarrant County |
On-road vehicles cause half of the
ozone-forming emissions.
Ozone forms when nitrogen oxides (NOx) combine
with
sunlight and intense heat.
Other emissions sources include:
- Off-road vehicles such as construction equipment, lawn equipment, aircraft and locomotives.
- Point sources such as cement and power plants.
- Area sources such as bakeries, paint shops and dry cleaners.
- Biogenic sources like vegetation and forest fires.
The North Central Texas Council of Governments and Regional Transportation Council developed a list of the most detrimental activities for the region's air quality. Programs, policies and projects focus on reducing emissions from:
- High-emitting vehicles
- Cold starts
- Hard accelerations
- High speeds
- Low speeds
- Excessive idling
- Diesel engines
- Vehicle miles traveled
Learn more about what you can do to reduce emissions. More information about air quality programs, policies and projects is available through NCTCOG and partner agencies.
High ozone concentrations can cause health problems
Inhaling ground-level ozone is especially dangerous for people who have asthma or respiratory problems, and they may experience increased frequency of asthma attacks and health care needs.
Young children may also be at risk for developmental problems associated with ozone exposure. Asthma rates have more than doubled over the last 20 years.
People without respiratory problems or asthma can also experience health effects from ozone exposure:
- Coughing
- Throat irritation
- Pain, burning or discomfort when taking a deep breath
- Chest tightening
- Shortness of breath.
More information about health impacts of ozone exposure is available from the EPA and American Lung Association.
Know the air quality index to better understand the severity of pollution and related health impacts
The Air Quality Index commonly known as the AQI is an index used for reporting daily air quality levels. Colors indicate how polluted the air is and how to protect your health.
Source: EPA
| Color |
Air Quality |
Protect Your Health |
| Green |
Good |
No action neccessary. |
| Yellow |
Moderate |
Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion. |
| Orange |
Unhealthy for sensitive groups |
Active children/adults and people with respiratory disease or asthma should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. |
| Red |
Unhealthy |
Active children/adults and people with respiratory disease or asthma should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else, espeically children, should limit outdoor exertion. |
| Purple |
Very Unhealthy |
Active children/adults and people with respiratory disease or asthma should avoid all prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. |
More information about the air quality index is available from NCTCOG, EPA, AIRNow.gov and others. Sign up to receive Air Pollution Watch and Warning alerts to know when the region's air quality will be unhealthy or worse.
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