Government
BY KATY MCAFEE
TravCo’s EPA status prompts health concerns
The impact
Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin found that Austin neighborhoods with worse air pollution were linked to higher rates of asthma-related trips to the emergency room.
Fine particle pollution exposure can lead to higher rates of asthma attacks, missed school or work days, emergency room visits and prema- ture death, EPA officials said. A study released March 18 by Dell
The EPA's monitors recorded an average of 9.3 micrograms per cubic meter for the county from 2020-2022. The World Health Organization’s guideline is only 5 micrograms per cubic meter. aren’t considered dangerous, they exceed the threshold for “healthy,” according to the EPA and WHO standards. If they don’t improve by 2032, the While Travis County’s fine particulate matter levels county will need to follow new planning requirements and could be denied funding for projects, officials said.
New air quality standards rolled out by the Environmental Protection Agency Feb. 7 could give Travis County a worse designation for fine particulate matter pollution. Travis County was passing the previous standard of 12 micrograms per cubic meter, but EPA’s new standards consider fine particulate matter pollution above 9 micrograms per cubic matter to be unhealthy. Fine particulate matter are tiny particles made up of dust, soot, smoke and chemicals emitted from construction sites.
AQI category and index value
Previous AQI category breakpoints
New breakpoints
Good (0-50)
0.0-12.0
0.0-9.0
Air quality is safe for all. Moderate (51-100)
12.1-35.4 9.1-35.4 Most people will be unaffected, but sensitive groups, which include children, elderly, and people with heart or lung disease may experience some symptoms. Unhealthy for sensitive groups (101-150) 35.5-55.4 35.5-55.4 Sensitive groups should avoid being outside for a prolonged period of time and heavy exertion.
SOURCE: TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT NOTE: THE AQI INCLUDES SIX TOTAL CATEGORIES. TRAVIS COUNTY'S SCORE IS UNLIKELY TO ENTER THE BOTTOM THREE.
Travis County- area air quality Monitors throughout Travis County saw several months with fine particulate matter averages at or above the EPA's new standard of 9 micrograms per cubic meter. Dripping Springs East MLK Zilker
Previous EPA standard
New EPA standard
14 12 8 10
What’s next
4 6 2 0
criticism by Attorney General Ken Paxton, who said in a news release that he is suing President Joe Biden’s administration as the EPA’s new air quality standards will impose significant economic harm on Texas. Travis County officials have not stated their position on the lawsuit.
Travis County officials have historically supported initiatives that provide clean air; however, Adele Noel, Travis County’s environmental project manager for air quality, said meeting EPA’s new standards may be out of the local government’s hands. EPA’s new standards have faced
2023
2024
Pflugerville Falcon Pointe soccer field*
*PFLUGERVILLE'S FALCON POINTE SOCCER FIELD MONITOR WAS NOT INSTALLED UNTIL SEPTEMBER. NOTE: THIS DATA REPRESENTS THREE SPECIFIC AIR FILTERS FROM PRIVATE COMPANY PURPLE AIR WHICH SHOWS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT RESULTS THAN THE EPA AVERAGE FOR THE COUNTY.
SOURCE: PURPLEAIR/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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