Scientist: Air quality in The Woodlands is rated 'poor'

Southbound traffic on I-45 jams both the main lanes and the service road due to construction on the interchange with the Grand Parkway near the new Exxon Mobil corporate just south of The Woodlands on Thursday, May 23, 2013. The new development is near Interstate 45 and the Hardy Toll Road. In total, the complex will house 10,000 people when it opens in 2015. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle ) less Southbound traffic on I-45 jams both the main lanes and the service road due to construction on the interchange with the Grand Parkway near the new Exxon Mobil corporate just south of The Woodlands on Thursday, ... more Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Staff Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Staff Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Scientist: Air quality in The Woodlands is rated 'poor' 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Just as Texas is about to get a portion of a massive multi-billion dollar settlement payment by Volkswagen to help fight air pollution, a noted scientist who studies and monitors the air we breathe is warning air quality in The Woodlands is "poor."

Dr. Stephanie Thomas, who beside being a noted scientist, also works for Houston-based Public Citizen, spoke to a gathering of about 40 concerned local residents at the Houston Advanced Research Center in The Woodlands Thursday night. Thomas backed up her observations on the local air with information from a report earlier this year from The Houston Chronicle and a separate report from the American Lung Association that gave Montgomery County an "F" in its rating of the air quality.

To the untrained eye, and perhaps nose, the air in The Woodlands seems mostly clear, but Thomas pointed out there are days when the local air is unhealthy.

"The air quality in The Woodlands needs improvement," Thomas said. "We can see trends that are indicating continued improvement, but we can do a little better."

In its report titled "2017 State of The Air Report," the lung association gave Montgomery County the failing grade because of 15 "high ozone" days recorded between 2013 through 2015.

And The Chronicle article reported earlier this year that one day in early May, an air quality monitor in Jones State Forest recorded an ozone reading of 83 parts per billion. That's 13 points higher than the national standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2015. At such levels, scientists say, the health of the elderly, adults with respiratory problems and other members of so-called sensitive groups is endangered.

At the time of the June 23 Chronicle report, the forest monitor had also recorded several other days when ozone levels exceeded federal standards.

"I would say the air quality here is poor quality. Right now, it's been generally in an improving trend," she said. "It has been getting better."

Thomas also cautioned attendees that the area's growing population would continue to put pressure on the area's air quality.

Poor air quality, or smog as it's often called, can be a combination of harmful components, including ozone, nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide, that can have serious health impacts on older people, children and those with heart and lung conditions. The components contained in smog are emitted by cars and trucks, as well as refineries, ships, manufacturing plants and other industrial operations.

To help fight air pollution, Thomas said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to soon announce how the $209 million Texas will be getting as part of the Volkswagen settlement will be spent to try to improve air quality across the state.

The money coming to Texas is part of a massive $14.7 billion agreement Volkswagen made to settle claims it had violated the federal Clean Air Act by installing software on its diesel cars that allowed the cars to "cheat" by posting cleaner results on air quality tests.

"They basically designed the cars to lie," Thomas said. "To make them look like what they're doing is really good for the environment, really good for health. But in reality, the cars weren't performing that well."

The talk by Thomas was one in a series of what will be ongoing lectures on environmental matters organized by The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N., a group that works to promote clean air, conservation, encourages recycling and backs other environmental issues. The group plans to announce additional speakers for talks to be held during the new year.