Reduce air pollution for a healthier city

In 2005, after the Houston Chronicle detailed the scary levels of cancer-causing chemicals in Houston’s air, Mayor Bill White convened a task force of scientists and physicians to study the problem. They identified ground-level ozone, fine particulate matter, diesel particulate matter and nine hazardous pollutants as a definite health risk to residents. The findings sparked a needed discussion about a healthier path forward for our city.

Unfortunately, since White left office in 2010, local leaders have not confronted Houston’s air quality with the same urgency. This is troubling because the problem has not gone away. So far this year we already have endured 26 days with unhealthy levels of ozone, or smog, , exceeding last year’s total. In July, a north Houston monitor recorded the worst smog day in Texas since 2013. If that was not bad enough, a federal database released last week revealed an alarmingly high cancer risk in some neighborhoods for the chemical ethylene oxide.

A recent analysis also shows that chemical plants and oil refineries released more than 8 million pounds of additional air pollution in the days after Hurricane Harvey began barreling toward the Texas coast. Keep in mind that these pollution releases do not happen only during natural disasters. They are far too common. In 2018 alone, companies in Harris County have reported more than 150 pollution releases that exceeded their state permits, more than 1.5 million pounds in total. Sadly, Texas rarely punishes industry for these releases, allowing 97 percent of them to occur without penalty between 2011 and 2016.

There are two main strategies to protect people from the public health impacts of air pollution — reduce emissions and limit exposure. So what can the city do? Here are some recommendations for local leaders.

Reconvene the Mayor’s Task Force on the Health Effects of Air Pollution

Mayor Sylvester Turner should reconvene the task force that was responsible for White’s efforts to reduce air pollution and protect human health. It is particularly timely with the new finding on ethylene oxide. The risk was as high as 348 cases in 1 million people in Harris County. That elevates the chemical to the definite risk category in Houston, as defined by the original task force.

To prioritize strategies for reducing emissions, the city should commission a study to gain more understanding of its largest sources of toxic air emissions, examine which facilities have implemented the best available control technology, and implement a campaign to reduce air pollution. Given that many emission sources are outside city limits, Houston also can lead by convening decision-makers from other jurisdictions to develop a comprehensive plan to protect us from air pollution.

Leverage data and technology to support the enforcement of existing laws

Data and technology are transforming how cities address air pollution around the country. Pittsburgh, for example, uses the Breathe Cam, a camera that provides realtime views of the city to quantify the amount of pollution in the air. Chicago, meanwhile, is developing a network of air sensors that will monitor pollution and help city officials take action when needed.

In 2015, Houston passed an anti-idling ordinance to reduce air pollution from heavy-duty trucks. When vehicles idle, they emit toxic air pollutants that can harm cardiovascular and respiratory health. To reduce exposure to traffic-related air pollution, the city can leverage these types of tools to identify idling hotspots and target those areas for enforcement instead of overly relying on resident complaints.

Utilize city authority to protect the public health, safety and welfare of its residents.

After Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc on Houston, Turner said it was necessary “to build forward, not just build back.” As the city plots a sustainable path forward, local leaders should seriously consider an ordinance that prevents the future siting of hazardous facilities in residential neighborhoods. In Manchester, for example, people breathed air with high levels of cancer-causing benzene after a stormrelated leak at the nearby Valero refinery, putting an already vulnerable community at greater risk for long-term health problems.

The science has been clear for decades. Pollution-related health risks decrease with distance from sources. Smaller sources of air pollution, like concrete batch plants, face minimal regulatory oversight and do not belong in these communities. At a minimum, if the city continues to allow these sources in our neighborhoods, they should face higher regulatory oversight and standards. While the state regulates air permits, the city has control over how its land is used. We need both the state and the city to utilize its power by implementing every tool available to decrease emissions and reduce exposure to air pollution.

Everyone has a right to breathe clean air, and where you live should not determine your health. Houstonians should not have to continue to live with unacceptable risks to their health and safety nor have our property rights violated and property values compromised because our leaders lack the political will to protect us.