Air Quality Successes - Criteria Pollutants
Texas’ air quality has made huge strides in the past few decades. The state has devoted significant resources for air monitoring and research to advance the science and find innovative ways to improve air quality.
Our Nation's Air
by the US EPA
April 2015 Natural Outlook Story on Texas Air Quality
The Greatest Story Seldom Told by the Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies
- Ozone is a chemical formed from emissions from things such as cars and industrial facilities.
- Ozone can cause breathing problems, especially for children, the elderly, and those who have asthma.
- Ozone in Texas has decreased by 30% over the past 18 years.
* Design values are ambient-monitored values that are health-based and established by the EPA. More info
- Ozone can cause breathing problems, especially for children, the elderly, and those who have asthma.
- Ozone in Texas has decreased by 30% over the past 18 years.
* Design values are ambient-monitored values that are health-based and established by the EPA. More info
- PM2.5 are small particles that are either emitted into the air from dust, fires, and industrial processes, or formed from other chemicals emitted from cars, trucks, and power plants.
- PM2.5 can cause heart or breathing problems especially for those with asthma, heart disease, or children and elderly.
- Annual PM2.5 in Texas has decreased by 24% and 24-hour PM2.5 in Texas has decreased by 18% over the last 16 years.
* Design values are ambient-monitored values that are health-based and established by the EPA. More info
- PM2.5 can cause heart or breathing problems especially for those with asthma, heart disease, or children and elderly.
- Annual PM2.5 in Texas has decreased by 24% and 24-hour PM2.5 in Texas has decreased by 18% over the last 16 years.
* Design values are ambient-monitored values that are health-based and established by the EPA. More info
- NO2 is a gas that is emitted into the air from cars, trucks, power plants, and off-road machinery.
- NO2 can cause breathing problems especially for those with asthma, or children and elderly.
- NO2 in Texas has decreased by 15% (one-hour NO2) and 50% (annual NO2) over the last 18 years.
* Design values are ambient-monitored values that are health-based and established by the EPA. More info
- NO2 can cause breathing problems especially for those with asthma, or children and elderly.
- NO2 in Texas has decreased by 15% (one-hour NO2) and 50% (annual NO2) over the last 18 years.
* Design values are ambient-monitored values that are health-based and established by the EPA. More info
- SO2 is a gas that is emitted into the air from power plants and other sources than burn fuels that contain sulfur.
- SO2 can cause breathing problems especially for those with asthma, or children and elderly.
- SO2 in Texas has decreased by 78% over the last 18 years.
- Note that several new source orientated monitors were installed in 2016 and 2017. These monitors are expected to have valid design values in 2019. Design values from these monitors may cause increases in the statewide trends in 2019.
* Design values are ambient-monitored values that are health-based and established by the EPA. More info
- SO2 can cause breathing problems especially for those with asthma, or children and elderly.
- SO2 in Texas has decreased by 78% over the last 18 years.
- Note that several new source orientated monitors were installed in 2016 and 2017. These monitors are expected to have valid design values in 2019. Design values from these monitors may cause increases in the statewide trends in 2019.
* Design values are ambient-monitored values that are health-based and established by the EPA. More info
- CO is a gas that is emitted into the air from cars, trucks, and other combustion processes.
- CO reduces the amount of oxygen delivered into your body and can cause death at high levels.
- CO in Texas has decreased by 71% (one-hour CO) and 75% (eight-hour CO) over the last 18 years.
* Design values are ambient-monitored values that are health-based and established by the EPA. More info
- CO reduces the amount of oxygen delivered into your body and can cause death at high levels.
- CO in Texas has decreased by 71% (one-hour CO) and 75% (eight-hour CO) over the last 18 years.
* Design values are ambient-monitored values that are health-based and established by the EPA. More info
- Lead (Pb) is a metal found naturally in the environment or emitted directly from industrial sources or lead-containing fuels.
- Lead exposure can lead to a variety of problems. The most common problems are neurological effects in children and cardiovascular effects in adults.
- The source of lead emissions in Collin county is the Exide Frisco Recycling Center, which was a lead acid battery recycling complex. Exide Frisco ceased operations beginning on 11/1/2012.
- Since 2015, all monitors in Collin County have measured attainment of the 2008 Lead NAAQS.
- The lead design value the Frisco Eubanks monitor, the monitor located closest to the former Excide Frisco Recycling Center, has decreased 99% from the year of the center’s closing (2012) through 2018.
* Design values are ambient-monitored values that are health-based and established by the EPA. More info
- Lead exposure can lead to a variety of problems. The most common problems are neurological effects in children and cardiovascular effects in adults.
- The source of lead emissions in Collin county is the Exide Frisco Recycling Center, which was a lead acid battery recycling complex. Exide Frisco ceased operations beginning on 11/1/2012.
- Since 2015, all monitors in Collin County have measured attainment of the 2008 Lead NAAQS.
- The lead design value the Frisco Eubanks monitor, the monitor located closest to the former Excide Frisco Recycling Center, has decreased 99% from the year of the center’s closing (2012) through 2018.
* Design values are ambient-monitored values that are health-based and established by the EPA. More info
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