Gulfton’s dangerous heat From the cover
Two-minute impact
Harris county air pollution map Researchers with the environmental advocacy group Environmental Defense Fund found large areas in Harris County with fine particulate matter levels above 10 micrograms per cubic meter annually. They also found parts of southwest Harris County above the 12 micrograms per cubic meter level. While the EPA’s new annual air quality standard—announced Feb. 7—requires no more than 9 micrograms per cubic meter, Harris County was found at 11.4 micrograms per cubic meter annually, based on 2020-22 EPA air quality data. The World Health Organization’s standards for annual air pollution level of exposure is no more than 5 micrograms per cubic meter. *THE 2013-15 DATA WAS THE MOST RECENT AND COMPREHENSIVE VISUAL OF HARRIS COUNTY’S AIR POLLUTION LEVELS.
Fine particulate matter, micrograms per cubic meter annual average, 2013-15*
5.1-8
8.1-10
10.1-12
Higher than 12
In a 2023 health disparities annual report released by the Harris County Public Health department, officials said the conditions of where people live and work can have significant effects on one’s health and overall quality of life. Air pollution also impacts residents’ health care costs, according to researchers with Air Alliance Houston. In AAH’s December 2023 report, researchers cited emissions from 47 industrial facilities in eastern Harris County cost the community more than $313 million annually in asthma-related medical expenses. Uwak said Harris County is inundated with multiple sources of fine particulate matter. “It affects almost every system of the body,” Uwak said. “It’s a very, very tiny particle. What makes this particle very dangerous to health is when you inhale the particles, it can easily pass through all the protections in your respiratory tract.” Harris County Public Health Director Barbie Robinson said she believes commitment from policymakers, industry professionals and community partners must be made to address these issues. “Leadership from all groups must make a concerted effort to improve environmental conditions and address the health disparities caused or exacerbated by air pollution,” she said.
Humble
1960
Jersey Village
69
45
290
10
10
Houston
Gulfton
610
69
Missouri city
45
288
Pearland
6
SOURCE: ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
N
The details
Zooming out
Ten Texas counties do not meet the EPA’s revised annual levels based on 2020-22 federal air quality monitoring data that federal officials say are meant to better protect communities across the country. “This final air quality standard will save lives ... especially within America’s most vulnerable and overburdened communities,” EPA Adminis- trator Michael S. Regan said in a news release.
“Think about vehicle traffic,” Uwak said. “Nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds are released from cars, vehicles and diesel engines. You have those in the air. Then there’s excess heat because there’s very little green space to control some of that heat.”
With limited trees and green space, pedestrians have little to no shade to provide relief from Houston’s heat, Air Alliance Houston officials said. Public transportation users in Gulfton often find themselves waiting on a sidewalk for the bus with no covering as vehicles zoom by a few feet away.
Types of air pollution impacting Gulfton
Following a 2022 community air monitoring program done by environmental group Air Alliance Houston, three key pollutants were found to contribute to urban heat island effects in Gulfton.
Counties not meeting EPA’s revised standards
Term
Definition
Health effects
Dallas
Tarrant
Bowie
Nitrogen oxide (NOx)
Gases released from vehicle exhaust, burning fossil fuels
Breathing NOx can cause coughing, shortness of breath, tiredness and nausea.
El Paso
Highly reactive carbon compounds released by vehicle exhaust, refineries and other industrial sources Nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds released by vehicles, refineries and other industries, combined with heat and sunlight
Breathing VOCs can damage the central nervous system, liver, kidneys and other organs. Some VOCs can cause cancer.
Volatile organic compounds (VOC)
Travis
Harris
Ozone can cause chest pain, coughing, throat irritation and congestion, and can worsen bronchitis, emphysema and asthma.
Cameron Kleberg
Webb
Ozone
Hidalgo
N
SOURCE: AIR ALLIANCE HOUSTON/COMMUNITY IMPACT
10
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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