By Brad Kellar, Greenville Herald-Banner, Greenville, Texas
Jul. 16–The lazy, hazy days of summer are beginning to prove unhealthy for people with breathing difficulties.
Stagnant, humid atmospheric conditions have again led to yet another warning of potentially poor air quality in North Central Texas, including Hunt County.
It is the fourth time since the Memorial Day weekend the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has issued such an alert.
Area residents who may have difficulties breathing due to asthma or other conditions are again being urged to take extra precautions when venturing outside today.
Hunt County and areas to the west, including the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, have been placed under a level orange “unhealthy for sensitive groups” air pollution watch by the TCEQ, which indicated atmospheric conditions are expected to be favorable during the day for producing high levels of ozone pollution.
Elevated levels of ozone can act as a lung irritant, according to the TCEQ. Individuals with chronic lung disease, such as asthma and emphysema, as well as the elderly and young children, are particularly sensitive to ozone and should attempt to avoid exposure, and to minimize exertion outdoors during the mid-day to early evening hours, or to stay indoors in an air-conditioned room during the time frame.
The air pollution watch also includes Collin, Kaufman and Rockwall counties.
The National Weather Service forecast called for mostly sunny skies today, with little or no wind and a high of 92 degrees and heat index values — what it feels like when the humidity is added in — of 97 degrees.
In late May, the same locations were placed under a level “orange” air pollution watch for one day and the counties were placed on a level “red” air pollution watch — the highest level under the alert system — on June 22.
On June 30, the same locations were placed under a two-day orange level pollution watch.
In March, the Environmental Protection Agency placed Hunt and 344 other counties across the United States into nonattainment zones for air pollution, ruling the areas did not meet federal standards for smog.
Additional information about ozone can be found at www.tceq.state.tx.us/nav/data/ozone_data.html.
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Copyright (c) 2008, Greenville Herald-Banner, Greenville, Texas
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