The University of Texas at Arlington
Office of Public Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media contact: Sue Stevens, (817) 272-3317, sstevens@uta.edu

ARLINGTON - Continuing its commitment to sustainability, The University of Texas at Arlington is the first educational entity to partner with Air North Texas, launched July 15. Nine counties in North Texas, including Tarrant and Dallas, are classified as nonattainment areas for eight-hour ozone levels by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Inhaling ground-level ozone presents a health hazard, especially for people who have asthma or respiratory problems. Young children may also be at risk for developmental problems associated with ozone exposure. Asthma rates have more than doubled over the last 20 years and people without respiratory problems or asthma can also experience health effects from ozone exposure.

Air North Texas, formed by the North Central Texas Council of Governments with support of an Air Quality Public Relations Task Force, is a regional clean air partnership and campaign to provide a comprehensive air quality resource and promote a consistent, regional air quality message.  The organization is committed to leveraging area resources and programs in a collaborative effort to increase public awareness of specific
opportunities for residents to reduce emissions.  The integrated public awareness campaign encourages residents to make clean-air choices and incorporates the tools of print, Internet, radio, outreach events and non-traditional communication like educational air quality messages on gasoline pumps.

Visit www.airnorthtexas.org to learn more about committing to one or more of the 15 clean air choices or to sign up to receive information.

###