If you’re thinking of traveling to Houston, Texas, you may think of the unhealthy air quality Houston. Houston is ranked number 9 for ozone pollution in the US in the 2019 “State of Air” report. That spot is up 2 from the 2018 ranking. Houston also ranks in the top 20 (currently 17th in 2019) for particle pollution according to the same American Lung Association’s 20th annual report on air quality in the US. So Houstonians may not be proud about it, but the unhealthy air quality Houston is a problem.
Ozone and particle air pollution can contribute to negative health effects such as asthma, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease and developmental problems in humans.
At Risk from Particle Pollution
According to the 2019 “State of the Air” report, the Houston area had a total population of over 7 million people. Out of that, over 380,000 who had adult asthma and over 149,000 children who had asthma were at risk from particle pollution year-round. In addition, over 393,000 who were diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases were at risk from particle pollution year-round.
At Risk from Ozone Pollution
According to the same report, in the Houston area, people at most risk to ozone pollution numbered over 1.8 millions for those under the age of 18, and over 773,000 for those over the age of 65. Those who are most at risk from ozone pollution with pediatric asthma and adult asthma numbered 149,000 and 383,000 respectively. Those who were diagnosed with cardiovascular disease and were at risk number over 3,500.
Get Houston’s Air Quality Forecast
The Houston Health Department will issue warnings if the air quality is bad enough in regards to asthma. They call it “Asthma Air Aware Day Warning” and you can check their website for Houston’s air quality forecast. You can sign up to get the warning directly by email, text or voice call at their website AlertHouston.
Houston is one of the largest cities in the US. Unfortunately, with the size and population comes big city problem like unhealthy air quality in Houston. If you’re visiting or living in Houston, check the air quality forecast and plan your outdoor activities around the forecast to ensure you are not exposing yourself to the unhealthy air quality in Houston.
