Northeast San Antonio Metrocom Edition | May 2023

Health concerns

Ozone in the air can cause or worsen health problems, especially for those with underlying health issues or lung conditions.

About 80% of ozone pollution in the San Antonio area comes from sources across the country and other parts of the world. The San Antonio area contributes 19% of its own ozone pollution—the majority of that coming from automobiles.

Doctor visits, school absences 3

Reduced lung function 1

Emergency department visits 4

enroll in an initiative to support the growth of wind power. In 2009, Universal City was the rst Texas city to become a Green Power Community under the EPA for utilizing the Windtricity program and support- ing the development of wind power. The Casa Verde program aims to help low-income households reduce power consumption and has weatherized 30,000 homes since its inception. Williams said Universal City and other cities in the area have helped pro- mote alternative power sources in the community, encouraging solar power to residents interested in cutting costs. Williams said AACOG is working with other area governments to pro- mote programs that help cut pollution. “I think you will nd a lot of cities in our area are doing their best to at least try to meet the requirements and hope- fully lessen the amount of pollution we have in the air,” Williams said. Health concerns Aside from regulation, an increase in ground-level ozone can lead to other health concerns for the San Antonio area, said Kyle Cunningham, Metro Health program manager. Mobile (cars, trucks, automobiles): 29.7% Point (smokestacks, factories, coal, cement): 25.2% Nonroad (airplanes, boats): 18.3% Area (gas stations, stores, shopping): 12.2% Oil and gas (petrochemical production, fuel plants): 7.4% Biogenics (natural pollutants): 4.7% O road (ATVs, o-road vehicles): 2.5%

Respiratory symptoms,

Death

asthma attacks

Pollutants in San Antonio

NOTE: CHART PROGRESSION INDICATES THE PROPORTION OF POPULATION AFFECTED ONE BEING THE HIGHEST NUMBER AFFECTED, FIVE BEING THE LOWEST. THE LIST IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE. SOURCE: SAN ANTONIO OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

How to help

Residents can help reduce ozone pollution by making adjustments to daily activities, such as driving and yard work, and by purchasing less toxic products.

Maintain yard equipment: consider using tools without gasoline motors Use paint and cleaning products with less or zero volatile organic compounds

Refuel in the evening

AACOG is working with the Clean Cit- ies Coalition National Network—a pro- gram by the U.S. Department of Energy to promote clean fuel alternatives and raise awareness of pollution caused by idling cars—and other organizations to help inform the community. In the area, municipally owned CPS Energy is the largest provider for elec- tricity and energy generation. To help cut back on contributions to pollution, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said the city will leave coal energy behind by 2028, which is 35 years sooner than expected. “The plan we approved calls for clos- ing the Spruce I coal plant by 2028 and transitioning Spruce II to natural gas by 2027—minimizing the burden on our ratepayers,” he said. According to Nirenberg, the plan will add more than 4,900 megawatts of generation capacity, including new wind and solar capacity as well as addi- tional battery storage. CPS Energy has made a push for alter- native energy production by imple- menting programs such as Windtricity and Casa Verde. The Windtricity program allows residential and business customers to

Limit driving and idling: use public transportation or carpool

SOURCE: SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Community involvement Mobile sources contribute 29.7% of area pollution. The community can play a part in cutting back on ozone pollution by carpooling, taking fewer trips during the day, refueling in the evening, not idling and using public transportation, Cunningham said. Homeowners can also look into alternative energy sources for their homes, such as solar panels. “These little things sound like they may not be much, but if we all work together and contribute a small amount, I think there would be a tremendous improvement,” Cunningham said. Reporter Edmond Ortiz contributed to this report.

Conditions could include reduced lung function, cardiac eects, asthma attacks, increased doctor visits, hospital admissions and in extreme cases death, Cunningham said. “As the ozone levels go up, it becomes harder,” he said. “Unfortu- nately, we may see increases in the number of people that are aected.” While many of the eects are more likely in those with underlying con- ditions, on high ozone days, healthy people can have diculty too. The TCEQ denes Ozone Action Days as days when conditions are forecast to have high ozone levels, and advises residents and businesses to take steps to reduce pollutants that contribute to ozone. “On high ozone days, it becomes hard to breathe,” Cunningham said. “Even for healthy people, it becomes dicult because things are still; it is hot; and the ozone levels are rising.”

NOW!

NORTHEAST SAN ANTONIO METROCOM EDITION • MAY 2023