Climate plan to reduce air pollutants From the cover
BY COLBY FARR, MIRANDA JAIMES & DON MUNSCH
Denton County has a population of 977,281, based on 2022 census figures. These are four of the populations in the county that are most at risk on high ozone days. Populations at risk in Denton County
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To reach attainment, each North Texas monitor has to report less than 75 parts per billion in ozone concentration on a three-year average. The region’s ozone average was reported at 81 parts per billion between 2021-23.
The plan’s 42 measures include initiatives such as funding infrastructure for low-emission and electric vehicles. Traffic and idling automobiles are factors that cause pollutants that affect air quality. Despite improvements made over the past 20-30 years, North Texas is still not meeting the attainment standard for ground-level ozone set by the EPA, Nance said. The region’s population growth may have contributed to stalls in air quality improvement. Denton County’s population increased more than 100% between 2002 and 2022, per data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The EPA website lists several activities individu- als can do to help air quality: • Reduce air pollution by walking or bicycling. • Reduce electricity use. • Improve indoor air quality by using things such as air purifiers. • Help prevent wildfires by avoiding using fire on dry, hot days.
Ten counties in North Texas, including Denton, do not meet federal standards for ground-level ozone concentration, which can impact quality of life and respiratory health for North Texas residents.
The council of governments will make every effort to collaborate with the region in implementing improvement measures, Nance said. In Argyle, town officials have concentrated their efforts to improve air on the tree canopy, Mayor Rick Bradford said. The town aims to have a 35% tree coverage over the entire town. Argyle was at 31% in May 2024. “One of the aspects of that is the clean air and environment,” he said. He said the town has not been involved in clean air initiatives but it is something they may consider. Argyle does not have manufacturing or high- impact businesses, but auto traffic does contribute to the air’s quality, Bradford said. The full plan is available at www.bit.ly/3V7Pb0i
Iluyomade said air quality can affect the lungs in a number of ways, including causing serious conditions and diseases. He said poor air quality can harm lungs in the long- and short-term. The long-term harm can affect those who suffer from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and COVID-19. Those conditions even could have been under good control previously until those people encountered pulmonary infections from pollutants. The Priority Climate Action Plan covers the next five years and has 42 actionable measures, Senior Air Quality Planner Savana Nance said. If all measures are fully implemented, the region could see a reduction in ground-level ozone, which has been rising in North Texas for the last three years. Ground-level ozone is a harmful air pollutant and the main ingredient of smog, according to the EPA.
Cardiovascular disease
63,906
Adult asthma
58,730
COPD
40,794
Ozone concentrations trends in North Texas
Pediatric asthma
14,381
95
SOURCE: AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT
90
87
Flower Mound completed a trails and bikeways plan in 2022 that could help reduce the number of vehicles on the road, Parks and Recreation Director Chuck Jennings said. “A well-planned trails and bikeways system can promote active transportation, reducing reliance on fossil fuel-powered vehicles and subsequently decreasing harmful emissions,” Jennings said.
1997 EPA standard
85
81
80 79
83
80
77
77
81
76
76 76
2008 EPA standard
75
2015 EPA standard
70
71*
0
2011-13 2012-14 2013-15 2014-16 2015-17 2016-18 2017-19 2018-20 2019-21 2020-22 2021-23 2022-24*
*DATA FOR 2022-24 IS NOT MEASURED IN A FULL THREE-YEAR PERIOD.
SOURCE: NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS/COMMUNITY IMPACT
LEWISVILLE 2416 S Stemmons Fwy (214) 488-0888
WESTLAKE 2341 Highway 377 (817) 490-9072
DENTON 2315 Colorado Blvd (940) 243-2929
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