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Krista Villareal
UNT alum and meteorologist of KXAS-TV in Dallas-Fort Worth
Troy Studcky
UNT alum and an environmental scientist and regional pesticides enforcement coordinator at the Environmental Protection Agency
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Waiting to Inhale
According to lyricist George Gershwin, summertime living is easy.
For some residents of Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth and Texas' other large
cities, however, that is sometimes far from true.
Summer weather, with its high temperatures, light winds, low cloud cover and
low rainfall totals, can become a recipe for health problems, says Dr. Troy Stuckey,
an environmental scientist and regional pesticides enforcement coordinator at
the Environmental Protection Agency. He points out that the combination of morning
pollution emissions from commuter traffic and certain afternoon weather conditions, "can
bake up an unhealthy concoction — an ozone threat."
While ozone in the stratosphere protects life from dangerous ultraviolet rays,
it can be harmful at ground level. Humans, particularly those with respiratory
illnesses, become more susceptible to disease after exposure to ozone. Ozone
also causes difficulty in breathing by irritating the lungs' lining, resulting
in contracting lung muscles and constricting breathing tubes.
In the fall of 1999, Dallas-Fort Worth took the first step to warn residents
about ozone threats, which cannot be predicted by human eyes. Representatives
of public health and environmental agencies gathered to discuss the issue.
Stuckey, a University of North Texas graduate who received his doctoral degree
in 1999, joined in the discussion with fellow graduate Krista Villarreal, a meteorologist
for KXAS-TV, the Dallas-Fort Worth NBC affiliate. They were joined by Don Wall,
environmental reporter for WFAA-TV, the Dallas-Fort Worth ABC affiliate and current
UNT master's student in environmental ethics.
Working with government agencies, weather experts and health organizations, the
UNT-connected participants helped to create the Air Pollution Watch and Warning
Program.
The program advises North Texas residents about the quality of air to expect
each day. Advisories classify air quality from good to bad, using colors to represent
different levels of health threats Green represents a good air quality (low ozone
levels); yellow, moderate; orange, unhealthy for sensitive groups; red, unhealthy
for everyone; purple, very unhealthy.
Since Stuckey, Villarreal and Wall helped to launch the program in May 2000,
other Texas metropolitan areas have adopted similar programs.
The Air Pollution Watch and Warning Program helps Dallas-Fort Worth residents
make informed choices about outdoor exposure to ozone levels. Residents with
immune deficiencies or respiratory diseases may opt to stay inside during times
of high ozone exposure, and sports enthusiasts make take their workouts inside
until the ozone threat abates for the day.
The Air Pollution Watch and Warning Program is a regular part of the weather
forecast on both KXAS and WFAA. It is also reported on the Spanish language station
Telemundo 52 and other Dallas-Fort Worth television outlets and media. Information
about the day's ozone levels is also disseminated via electronic signs
along area highways and through the program's local web site, www.dfwcleanair.com.
Villarreal says that before the program started, meteorologists were using different
terms to describe ozone days.
"Now concerned viewers call me and ask what color the day will be," she
says.
Wall says the program may prove beneficial to the environment as well as to residents.
"When people gain greater awareness of the ecological problems affecting them,
they tend to advocate for change. That's when progress can be made," he
says.
Stuckey, Villarreal and Wall continue to use their expertise in educating and
informing the public about environmental issues.
When Stuckey leaves his office on Tuesday afternoons, he drives to UNT, where
he teaches an environmental class. He arrives at the classroom, positions himself
in front
of a board and teaches about ozone.
On a typical day, Wall stands outside in front of a camera, adjusting to the
bright sun as he begins to report on the air quality in Dallas.
That same day might find Villarreal standing in front of a blue screen, smiling
into a camera. Soon, a graph will appear and she'll tell her audience that
it's a green day. This day in the city, all is well with the ozone.
UNT News Service Phone Number: (940) 565-2108
Contact: Cathy Cashio (940) 565-4644
Email: news_service@unt.edu
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