TCEQ monitors air pollution levels across the state - KEYE TV CBS Austin

TCEQ monitors air pollution levels across the state | KEYE

AUSTIN, Texas - From Canadian wildfire smoke that blanketed much of the Northeast US, to elevated ozone levels in Texas, poor air quality has been making headlines. The Lone Star State has one of the most extensive air monitoring networks in the country, maintained by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). CBS Austin's Chikage Windler toured the air lab to see how air quality is measured.

The hazy, lazy days of summer are upon us, and typically, that means more air quality concerns. So how is air pollution measured, and what can we do about it? The Texas Commission for Environmental Quality is located in Austin and tracks pollution across the state and tests for dozens of chemicals that could be harmful to your health.

"We are looking for 84 different pollutants, chemicals," says Craig Mitschke, Senior Chemist for the TCEQ.

He says air samples collected statewide are sent to TCEQ's Air Laboratory in Austin for analysis.

"This is a carbonyl cartridge that we collect air samples on," says Mitschke, holding an air sample.

From a tiny sample that fits in the palm of your hand to bigger canisters that are tested for "VOCs," known as volatile organic compounds, data collection helps determine how much pollution is in our air. Benzene is one of the main pollutants detected in the samples.

"Can you tell me what's going on with that one?" Mitschke asks. Windler responds, "It definitely looks like a dirty sample."

Particulate matter filters can detect pollutants like pollen, smoke, and in this case, Saharan dust from a previous year covering a filter in what looks like a layer of reddish-brown dirt.

"We deploy during emergencies," says Peyton Pearce, the TCEQ's Mobile Monitoring Team Leader.

In addition to analyzing air pollution on samples in the lab, the TCEQ can also monitor air quality on the go with its Mobile Monitoring Vans. Each is equipped with spectrometers to measure air quality plus an onboard weather station.

"It collects wind speed, direction, and GPS coordinates," says Pearce. That allows air quality and weather data to be used together to help track pollution levels and where higher concentrations may spread downwind from a natural disaster site or hazmat situation. Real-time air quality information is provided to officials and can help in emergency response to keep people safe. The mobile monitoring vans were recently deployed to provide air quality data in Deer Park, where a chemical fire broke out in May of 2023.

Then there's ground-level ozone.

"Regularly considered smog," says Ryan Vise, Director of External Relations for TCEQ.

Vise says the TCEQ issues Ozone Action Days when conditions are favorable for ozone to form. They're forecasts of potentially poor air quality, based on specific weather conditions most often occurring in the summer months.

"Hot summer days, when there's no or little wind, when it cannot be dispersed as easily in the air," explains Vise.

Though the average number of Ozone Action Days is 3 per year, we've already had 3 through June 10th of 2023. But that's far below the record 25 Ozone Action Days issued in 2022 when we had numerous sunny triple-digit days with stagnant air.

The main culprit?

"Mobile emissions are the biggest source, which is vehicles, trucks, and cars," says Vise.

230 Monitoring stations across the state measure ozone levels, and if they reach orange on the Air Quality Index, it can be unhealthy for those with sensitivities. Anything worse, and it's unhealthy for everyone.

"I'm definitely concerned about the air quality, especially when there's high pollution. I'm an asthmatic, so I deal with air pollution all the time," says Brian Brown, owner of B3 Fitness (Brooklyn Brian Brown Outdoor Fitness). He leads boot camp workouts at Mueller Lake Park in East Austin.

Brown has some advice on coping with Ozone Action Days and how they may make breathing more difficult, especially for those with respiratory issues like asthma.

"The biggest thing is to be more patient with yourself and understanding of the environment. If you're able to avoid it, yes, I do recommend it."

TCEQ recommends anything you can do to spend less time driving and idling to help keep emissions down.

"Our takecareoftexas.org website gives helpful tips for people so they can do their part," says Vise.

https://takecareoftexas.org/ has tips on what you can do to help keep our air cleaner.

https://www.airnow.gov/ lets you check the current and forecast air quality from multiple cities across the country.

To sign up for Central Texas air quality alerts: https://cleanairforce.org/ozone-action-alerts/

Texas air quality forecasts and monitoring: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html

This story aired Saturday night on CBS Austin News at 10 pm June 10th, 2023.