Experts are also asking Texans to limit their use of their vehicles. Instead, they should walk or ride their bikes when traveling.

This warning comes during Texas’ “Ozone Action Day,” which was organized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

The National Weather Service (NWS) said, “Atmospheric conditions are expected to be favorable for producing high levels of ozone air pollution in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Saturday.”

The NWS explained that there are many ways Texans can help prevent this pollution from growing. Residents may be shocked by some of these prevention methods.

The NWS explained, “You can help prevent ozone pollution by sharing a ride, walking, riding a bicycle, taking your lunch to work, avoiding drive-through lanes, conserving energy and keeping your vehicle properly tuned.”

They’ll likely be a familiar site by now to residents driving the highways in metro areas across the state, including Dallas-Fort Worth as mentioned, but also San Antonio, El Paso and Austin.

There are obvious environmental reasons for reducing pollution, but these Ozone Action Day alerts are also issued when ozone levels are anticipated to rise to levels that are “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

This includes older adults, adults with cardiovascular or respiratory illnesses and outdoor workers. Children and teenagers are also considered to be part of sensitive groups who should take particular notice of ozone action notices.

There are precautions sensitive people, along with all other residents, can take to limit ozone exposure according to Air Central Texas, including ensuring A/C filters are properly maintained, trying not to exert yourself while outdoors and generally limiting the amount of time you spend outside.

Ground-level ozone occurs when vehicle emissions and other pollutants are released, allowing the sunlight to make them chemically reactive. Smog is a known form of ground-level ozone.

There are other ways motorists can adapt on Ozone Action Days. Similar to avoiding drive-thru lanes, motorists should avoid idling their vehicles in general. This means turning off the vehicle if waiting for a curbside pickup, for example.

This is a good way for individuals to avoid adding their vehicle emissions to the time of day that will most likely have the highest impact on ozone formation.

There are other non-driving related things people can do to reduce pollution on Ozone Actions Days. Avoiding outdoor cooking or avoiding the use of portable generators, for example, can help minimize outdoor pollution.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified ground-level ozone as “a harmful air pollutant.” Therefore, many agencies try to combat it as much as possible.

The EPA has also stated that these areas can become deadly, saying, “Studies in areas with high ozone concentrations also report links to deaths from respiratory causes.”

The TCEQ has said, “Forecast seasons are determined based on when each area is likely to experience warmer temperatures and weather conditions conducive to increased ozone formation.”

There is a big push across the nation to increase the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), for example. Some states are pushing this adoption harder than other.

To reduce its negative impact on the global environment, California has declared that it intends to ban the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035.

Highway maintenance, for example, has traditionally been funded by gas tax paid by drivers based on fuel consumption.

States are already experimenting with different taxation models to try and ensure there’s sufficient money for highway maintenance. California, for example, is piloting a model taxing motorists based on the distance they travel as opposed to the fuel they consume.

Texas has instead decided to impose a $200 per-year registration fee for EV owners to offset lost gas tax revenue while still encouraging more eco-friendly motoring.

Most recently, seven regions of the Lone Star State received air-quality warnings because a Saharan dust storm had arrived, polluting the air.

Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston will be “code orange” from Saturday until Monday, according to the TCEQ. This means that the air quality may be “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

As ozone air pollution becomes a major problem in many states throughout the country, Americans may continue to receive these types of warnings on a regular basis.