Emissions Exceed Limits at Refineries South of Houston

Emissions of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides in the refining and petrochemical industrial zone south of Houston, Texas, have consistently exceeded limits, leading to high concentrations of ground-level ozone under sunny conditions; ozone concentrations at multiple monitoring stations have reached unhealthy levels. The areas south of Houston and around Galveston have been placed under a pollution advisory. This region has long been plagued by emissions from the petrochemical industry, and ozone pollution is highly prone to recurring outbreaks during hot, dry, and sunny periods.