By the second week of June, the Dallas-Fort Worth region had seen six days in 2025 where the region鈥檚 ozone reached unhealthy levels.
That number is down slightly from the made between May and June 8, 2024, for North Texas, according to the latest data from the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the agency tasked with monitoring the region鈥檚 air quality.
In total, Dallas-Fort Worth saw 43 ozone alerts in 2024.
North Texans could see more alerts later this year from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the state agency responsible for regulating and enforcing federal air quality standards, as ozone season for the region runs from March to October.
forecasts are made daily by the state commission so the public, industries and businesses can take preventative measures to reduce pollutants contributing to ozone formation.
Ground level when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds emitted from human activities and natural sources react in the presence of hot, sunny weather. that largely contribute to ozone include vehicle emissions, industrial facilities, chemical and power plants, refineries, paints and motorized lawn equipment.
The gas can lead to an array of , primarily respiratory issues such as worsened asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, chest pain, coughing, throat irritation and congestion, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Children, older adults, and those diagnosed with lung disease are more susceptible to the effects of ozone.
Ozone levels in the metroplex from 2023 to 2025, according to data collected as of June 2. Ozone data is represented by design values, which is the average of the fourth-highest value within a three-year period, according to the council of governments.
In addition to the six ozone alerts, the metroplex saw 34 days this year where its air quality reached moderate ozone levels, ranging from 55 to 70 parts per billion.
Levels ranging from 71 to 85 parts per billion of ozone are considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.
Per the EPA鈥檚 2008 ozone standards, Dallas-Fort Worth is currently classified as a severe nonattainment zone 鈥� an area that doesn鈥檛 meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for one or more pollutants 鈥� as the region exceeds the federal limit of 70 parts per billion of ozone.
If the region does not bring levels to or below 75 parts per billion, polluters or major sources of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides of $45 million under the EPA鈥檚 Clean Air Act, according to the state commission.
The public can track Dallas-Fort Worth ozone levels on the council of governments鈥� . To learn more about what the agency is doing to improve air quality in North Texas, click .
Nicole Lopez is the environment reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at nicole.lopez@fortworthreport.org.
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