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Air Quality Successes - Air Toxics

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.

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Monitoring Sites

Texas has the most extensive, aggressive monitoring program in the country.

As of May 2014, there are more stationary monitors that measure volatile organic compounds (like benzene) in the state of Texas than in any other state.
Evaluation of these data show that, overall, air in Texas is safe to breathe.

GeoTAM Viewer
The Geographical Texas Air Quality Monitoring viewer allow users to access information about air quality monitors, view and print maps of areas of interest, and obtain details about selected air monitors and their surrounding area.

Benzene monitoring in Texas from 2000 to 2014

Benzene in Texas

Benzene in Texas

Benzene is released into the air by a variety of sources (e.g., industry, automobiles, lawnmowers, etc.), and is one of the most widely monitored air toxin due to its ability to cause cancer.
Over 90 percent of the monitors operating from 2000-2014 (29 total across the state) showed a decrease in benzene annual average concentrations.
In 2014, all monitors in Texas had annual average benzene concentrations below the state’s safe level (Air Monitoring Comparison Value or AMCV).
For more information on benzene, visit: Final Development Support Documents

Benzene monitoring trends in the Houston area from 2000 to 2014

Benzene Trends

Houston is one of the most industrialized regions of the state.

From 2000 to 2014, over 90 percent of the benzene monitors (13 total that were active in 2000 and 2014) in the Houston Region showed a decrease in annual average concentrations.
In 2014, all monitors in the Houston Region had annual average benzene concentrations well below the state’s safe level (Air Monitoring Comparison Value or AMCV).

Air Pollutant Watch List detail through 2014

Air Pollutant Watch List

Significant decreases in concentrations of chemicals of concern have been observed since being listed on the Air Pollutant Watch List (APWL).

Annual Average Benzene Concentrations and Barnett Shale Oil and Gas Production from 1997 to 2012

Barnett Shale

Barnett Shale AutoGC Data

The Barnett Shale is a 5,000 square mile hydrocarbon-producing geological formation west and south of Dallas.
As of December 2012, all hourly and annual average concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) reported by the Dallas-Fort Worth area automated gas chromatograph (autoGC) monitoring sites were below their short-term and long-term air monitoring comparison values (AMCVs) and would not be expected to cause acute or chronic adverse health effects, vegetation effects, or odor concerns.