“Air Pollution Warning: Level Red”

Monday turned out to be the single worst day for smog in DFW in 2012.  Monitors in Northwest Ft. Worth, Grapevine, North Dallas and Dallas/Hinton Street recorded 8-hour averages of "Level Red" ozone –  a level of pollution according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality that means,

"The highest measured levels of ozone during the previous hour are considered unhealthy. Everyone, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. People with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion."

Ten monitors exceeded the old 1997 eight-hour 85 ppb standard and those same three – Ft. Worth Northwest, Hinton and Arlington Airport, averaged over 100 ppb for eight hours or more.

In fact, Arlington saw a one-hour high of 128 ppb – an "exceedence" of a standard more than 20 years old –  and it's 107 8-hour average on Monday was the highest at any DFW monitor since 2007. 

The Hinton Street monitor recorded it's third exceedence since March. One more and DFW will once again be in non-attainment with the Clean Air Act, for the 21st year in a row. Four others recorded their second exceedence.

Last year it took us into the middle of Summer before that happened. This year it may occur during the first week of Summer. This is what Governor Perry and TCEQ call progress.