| The
Houston Air Quality Index Report
is the most convenient way to quickly review the
status of air pollution across the region. The
Air Quality Index is the official system
established by the US Environmental Protection Agency
for rating air pollution.
Maps are another way to quickly review the status of air
pollution across the region. The fastest and most
accurate option is a
map of current ozone air pollution levels
. Another option is a
regional animation
of the day's ozone air pollution levels - this
shows how air pollution moves across the region,
but it takes longer to download and its accuracy
is limited because there is not enough data to be
certain of air pollution levels in every part of
the region. Fewer resources are available to learn about levels of
fine particulates. A
statewide map
provides current data, and the
hourly fine particulate levels are provided in a table. To obtain a detailed report of measured air pollution
levels in the Houston region, the Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality maintains
hourly average data
for all pollutants as well as weather
conditions. Please read the explanation of how
the time is presented in this report - the data
may be appear more than two hours old, due to the
way that time is displayed, even when the data
are as recent as technically possible.
Traveling? Check out the
EPA's AirNow , with forecasts and air quality reports for the entire country. |
The US EPA has a number of publications describing the
health effects of air pollution.
The American Lung Association provides
fact sheets and a reference website for studies related to the national standards for air
quality.
Mothers for Clean Air provides this guide for
people with respiratory sensitivities,
Managing asthma and ozone in the Houston area
[pdf].
|
If you have general questions or comments about this
website, contact Matt Van Vleck at 713-920-2831
To report unusual odors or smoke, call the number
where the smell or smoke is located:
-
Harris County :
(713) 920-2831
-
City of Houston
:
(713) 640-4200 -
Galveston County
:
(409) 938-2251
- Outside Harris and Galveston Counties (TCEQ): (713)
767-3700
To report smoking vehicles, call 1-800-453-SMOG, send a
fax to 512-239-2050, e-mail smog@tnrcc.state.tx.us, or use the
online reporting form at http://www.smokingvehicle.org/ . Vehicle owners will be notified and encouraged to make
necessary repairs voluntarily.
The
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is responsible for the state's air quality monitoring,
planning, research and enforcement programs. |
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