Hold Your Breath
Dallas lands on dismal list of most polluted cities in America
In honor of Earth Day week, here's some downer news for all of the air breathers out there: The American Lung Association's recent ranking of the Most Polluted Cities in America puts the Dallas-Fort Worth area at No. 8 for worst ozone.
Dallas, Denton, Collin and Tarrant counties all earned an F for ozone quality. But it's not all bad news: DFW recorded 20 less high ozone days this year compared to 1996 (when the study began), and Tarrant County earned an A for particle pollution. (Dallas County got a B.)
This news comes on the heels of a traffic report showing DFW road congestion decreased 18 percent in 2012. Apparently fewer cars on the road did little to help our air quality.
Los Angeles, which also ranked first in traffic congestion, took the highest dishonor for pollution, followed by five other California spots. Houston ranks just ahead of us at No. 7, and Beaumont-Port Arthur ranks No. 20 on the list.