Tarrant County gets failing grade for ozone air pollution from American Lung Association
More than 2 million people across Tarrant County are breathing air that may put their health at risk, and over half are people of color.
That’s according to the 2022 State of the Air report released Thursday by the American Lung Association. It looked at nationwide exposure to two pollutants: ozone (smog) and particulate matter (soot).
Tarrant County earned a failing “F” grade for ozone pollution, with an average of 16 high smog days from 2018 to 2020. Between 2017 to 2019, there were an average 15 high smog days. Dallas-Fort Worth is the 16th most polluted metro area in the nation when it comes to ozone pollution.
Exposure to ozone pollution can cause breathing difficulties, heart disease, developmental problems and early death.
Four groups of people are especially vulnerable to the effects of breathing ozone:
- children and teens;
- anyone 65 and older;
- people with existing lung diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and
- people who work or exercise outdoors.
But the good news is that particle pollution, which is also dangerous, continues to stay stable. The county passed with a “B” grade, meaning residents are less affected by soot in the air that could cause a slew of health problems. Dallas-Fort Worth ranks 48th in the nation for particle pollution.
The report highlights disparities along racial and socioeconomic lines, with 55% of county residents at the highest risk from these pollutants being people of color and 10% being those living in poverty.
