Our Nation's Air
by the US EPA
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- Texas showed a 32% decrease in ozone, the 10th largest decrease in the United States.
- All other states averaged a decrease of 19%.
- The eastern half of the US, plus Texas and California, had the largest decreases in ozone while the western US saw less of a decrease and even an increase in some states.
- Values are based on the three-year average of the maximum fourth-highest eight-hour ozone concentration from all monitors operating within each state.
- Texas has two of the most populous combined statistical areas (CBSAs) in the US.
- The two areas in Texas, the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria (HGB) and the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) areas, have the first and the third largest percent decreases in ozone design values from 2000 through 2019, 29% and 25% respectively.
- Of the five largest CBSA’s, the DFW area has the lowest eight-hour ozone design value in 2020.
- The fourth-highest eight-hour ozone concentrations for the Houston and Los Angeles CSA’s have trended lower from 2000 to 2020.
- However, the fourth-highest ozone in Houston is decreasing at a faster rate of 36% compared to California, which has seen a 2% increase from 2000 through 2020.
- In 2020, the fourth-highest ozone value was 50 ppb higher in Los Angeles than in Houston.
- The Air Quality Index (AQI) takes into account all criteria pollutants.
- Houston has had many more good (green) days when compared to Los Angeles. Further, the number of good days has increased by 253% from 2000 through 2020 in Houston while the number of good days has increased by 122% over that same time in Los Angeles.
- Houston’s air quality in 2020 was either good (green) or moderate (yellow) 93% of the time while Los Angeles had good or moderate air quality 61% of the time.
- Of the 20 states with the highest fossil-fuel fired power plant NOX emissions, Texas ranks 8th lowest in emissions per capita.
- Though Texas has the 2nd highest population among all states, emissions per person are low.
- Emissions and generation data from the EPA Clean Air Markets for calendar year 2019.
- Data current as of 07/11/2021
- Of the 20 states with the highest fossil-fuel fired power plant SO2 emissions, Texas ranks 10th lowest in emissions per capita.
- Though Texas has the 2nd highest population among all states, emissions per person are low.
- Emissions and generation data from EPA Clean Air Markets for calendar year 2020.
- Data current as of 07/11/2021