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Airborne Particulates

Smoke, dust, soot. All of these are airborne particulates that are inhaled every time we breath. These particulates are classified by their size. Larger or "coarse" particles range in size from 2.5 to 10 micrometers in size, while "fine" particles are smaller than 2.5 micrometers in size. All of these are far too small to be seen with the naked eye. The TCEQ measures both fine and coarse particulates across the network.

This information is updated hourly. All times shown are Local Standard Time.

Click here for a map showing the current PM-2.5 levels across Texas. Or, click here for the current Air Quality Index.

PM-2.5 (Local Conditions) Acceptable

Fine particulates (PM-2.5) are generally emitted from activities such as industrial and residential combustion and from vehicle exhaust. Fine particles are also formed in the atmosphere when gases such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds, emitted by combustion activities, are transformed by chemical reactions in the air. Large-scale agricultural burning or sand storms can produce huge volumes of fine particulates. PM-2.5 data is the near real-time measurement of particulate matter 2.5 microns or less in size from the surrounding air. This measurement is made at local conditions, and is not corrected for temperature or pressure.  

The table below contains hourly averages for PM-2.5 (Local Conditions) Acceptable on Thursday, February 9, 2012.

         
Select a Region:
AreaCAMSMorningAfternoonPOCCAMS
Mid 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:0010:0011:00Noon 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00
Amarillo - all times are in Central Standard Time
320 7.318.106.567.288.507.917.479.394.465.315.686.016.655.413.554.466.087.067.336.363 320
AreaCAMSMorningAfternoonPOCCAMS
Mid 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:0010:0011:00Noon 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00
Lubbock - all times are in Central Standard Time
325 4.414.405.485.175.025.196.406.207.247.675.300.983.553.984.876.495.332.7914.6614.973 325
AreaCAMSMorningAfternoonPOCCAMS
Mid 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:0010:0011:00Noon 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00
Abilene - all times are in Central Standard Time
315 5.046.325.796.434.935.976.196.358.587.857.217.407.157.108.027.3112.7510.4912.5812.313 315
AreaCAMSMorningAfternoonPOCCAMS
Mid 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:0010:0011:00Noon 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00
Dallas-Fort Worth - all times are in Central Standard Time
52 6.786.647.077.769.148.5911.5113.998.766.496.765.966.977.597.848.5610.7611.7310.2611.593 52
56 PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA3 56
61 7.906.896.797.5110.847.799.1810.3212.786.9410.118.776.857.028.189.0111.7312.2811.8412.393 61
71 8.035.725.487.8810.0218.9314.139.2910.243.937.977.326.215.079.038.9610.2113.609.9813.053 71
310 11.4713.2813.2914.0712.6312.9714.9624.0220.798.829.699.857.847.038.039.0411.5311.6511.8912.583 310
401 5.818.267.867.277.709.8410.7013.1516.5412.499.306.638.507.236.919.189.8810.7410.1811.973 401
1044 8.467.757.226.557.237.348.4610.0112.006.867.398.369.1510.349.729.3511.969.8410.2411.553 1044
1051 7.977.617.247.617.738.748.068.8311.637.509.928.628.759.089.028.7710.629.9413.2311.493 1051
AreaCAMSMorningAfternoonPOCCAMS
Mid 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:0010:0011:00Noon 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00
Tyler-Longview-Marshall - all times are in Central Standard Time
85 11.1210.4210.3310.559.3510.069.4810.5015.2715.699.186.496.157.137.846.326.458.397.218.253 85
AreaCAMSMorningAfternoonPOCCAMS
Mid 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:0010:0011:00Noon 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00
El Paso-Juarez - refer to the first data column for each site's specific time zone
MST12 10.846.706.337.548.649.7610.1010.9810.6110.504.416.765.734.295.004.245.144.909.07 FEW3 12
MST37 8.817.378.389.948.509.5019.5916.2117.639.624.258.639.058.466.265.567.125.3814.66 FEW3 37
MST4015.298.479.8612.4511.6012.9413.8617.1614.0515.306.918.448.096.086.096.787.6011.3522.05 FEW3 40
CST316 4.062.813.923.833.454.584.555.995.706.145.663.723.363.662.463.523.614.925.084.993 316
AreaCAMSMorningAfternoonPOCCAMS
Mid 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:0010:0011:00Noon 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00
Odessa-Midland - all times are in Central Standard Time
47 5.525.675.745.966.296.177.4110.4011.0010.598.947.457.025.524.644.926.376.186.8211.083 47
1014 6.056.195.176.756.466.277.629.4511.6311.088.847.617.835.494.666.477.117.367.2310.343 1014
AreaCAMSMorningAfternoonPOCCAMS
Mid 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:0010:0011:00Noon 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00
Waco - all times are in Central Standard Time
1037 10.7310.8110.2810.3510.7510.4611.1110.4113.4311.0711.7410.9812.5812.5911.5011.8312.6210.8712.8810.993 1037
AreaCAMSMorningAfternoonPOCCAMS
Mid 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:0010:0011:00Noon 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00
Beaumont-Port Arthur - all times are in Central Standard Time
64 11.318.098.318.109.0110.1910.1711.609.836.437.556.786.557.7119.5223.5118.0511.509.8010.463 64
642 6.707.467.437.038.429.258.719.227.946.386.8710.927.126.155.8110.8213.4018.219.519.273 642
689 8.357.887.566.326.579.639.597.886.616.715.863.936.5217.3820.7721.6934.3826.0820.9114.593 689
1050 7.317.177.697.778.478.878.218.4611.7914.1015.0510.117.428.8211.0715.8611.8211.2927.5423.433 1050
AreaCAMSMorningAfternoonPOCCAMS
Mid 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:0010:0011:00Noon 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00
Austin - all times are in Central Standard Time
3 10.9510.159.669.5310.2911.019.7011.3111.059.299.628.837.238.349.2610.6010.3610.389.9410.493 3
38 10.8410.849.579.119.439.709.0210.2611.669.959.298.427.216.828.418.048.428.429.508.773 38
326 PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA10.139.0110.6711.813 326
601 10.529.679.199.589.819.528.898.5210.3510.228.206.965.685.025.746.449.408.618.8210.743 601
AreaCAMSMorningAfternoonPOCCAMS
Mid 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:0010:0011:00Noon 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria - all times are in Central Standard Time
1 9.9110.2612.1912.0613.7013.84                            3 1
8 11.7411.4112.7612.8512.6913.2214.0013.2114.8411.476.786.923.674.764.966.737.1910.5615.8412.353 8
15 8.969.7411.0411.7812.7712.6213.8412.3710.629.587.696.686.746.517.399.5811.989.438.8010.353 15
35 7.6310.6112.6817.2917.1815.9515.0313.4212.758.566.812.977.127.068.474.6612.727.528.348.423 35
45 7.449.177.239.0313.3014.3214.1511.3510.579.998.476.436.597.147.006.916.546.076.439.223 45
78 10.7511.1010.7811.6310.4010.329.8811.2911.4512.266.786.385.535.796.586.449.367.857.3821.823 78
309 12.1412.0412.1112.0411.8513.0713.1812.2011.449.313.974.734.465.815.776.705.655.2010.0412.293 309
403 7.839.6711.9812.9914.7713.1413.8113.7012.2013.3413.5914.7210.718.988.7310.1410.6210.8011.6510.063 403
416 11.5612.2013.3813.2914.3315.6917.1416.2715.7015.8310.556.395.126.917.849.559.057.738.749.013 416
572 8.8210.438.6414.5114.9713.7214.4114.5211.9522.059.756.447.278.126.957.228.536.087.379.723 572
1034 9.2010.849.099.5211.2010.259.4910.3510.8311.508.465.564.774.756.487.378.187.157.916.973 1034
AreaCAMSMorningAfternoonPOCCAMS
Mid 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:0010:0011:00Noon 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00
San Antonio - all times are in Central Standard Time
23 9.278.749.159.409.1610.6911.1911.4813.9912.0112.149.368.3913.5516.379.1711.7211.0613.9414.333 23
59 9.369.6110.4510.6910.5811.0912.6612.6313.2112.8413.289.638.8610.9510.2411.6314.1111.8112.4510.943 59
301 11.1710.589.719.8711.0110.8811.7713.5214.9812.7411.0310.197.2010.5212.1914.7211.6611.1111.4615.943 301
622 9.419.439.369.8710.6111.1211.6612.2312.4013.6818.959.017.329.7210.6111.5212.0814.1111.3211.743 622
676 9.259.419.8610.4711.1412.1212.8913.7913.9112.2112.6210.509.8210.2310.3110.7414.0012.7813.1013.203 676
677 9.6010.299.899.6710.0811.0311.6612.6413.9713.5914.289.8611.2911.1610.8011.8012.7414.8413.6913.823 677
678 10.2610.0310.2010.3611.0312.0211.9812.4714.2312.2912.9314.4511.5911.3210.4911.3511.9912.3813.3712.863 678
AreaCAMSMorningAfternoonPOCCAMS
Mid 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:0010:0011:00Noon 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00
Corpus Christi-Victoria - all times are in Central Standard Time
4 LIM LIM LIM LIM LIM LIM LIM LIM LIM LIM LIM9.099.8311.03 LIM LIM LIM LIM LIM LIM3 4
314 PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA PMA3 314
AreaCAMSMorningAfternoonPOCCAMS
Mid 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:0010:0011:00Noon 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00
Lower Rio Grande Valley - all times are in Central Standard Time
43 7.116.858.948.4411.0111.0012.6012.5612.3711.7510.869.948.038.0510.3910.4211.3312.0310.8410.693 43
80 12.2713.0311.8512.1712.4913.9714.4414.0514.1213.8814.0715.988.457.328.729.028.429.1810.9011.143 80
AreaCAMSMorningAfternoonPOCCAMS
Mid 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:0010:0011:00Noon 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00
Laredo - all times are in Central Standard Time
313 11.3210.5010.118.638.839.7111.2011.2211.3012.1910.9012.0113.2811.7012.4911.2111.8213.4314.2515.793 313
319 8.878.607.679.829.9110.3110.9710.829.818.688.998.158.908.848.338.389.6210.1911.4113.233 319
This site has construction or other localized sources that can produce high readings that do not affect the overall metropolitan area.
Maximum values for PM-2.5 (Local Conditions) Acceptable for the day are bold within the table.
PM-2.5 (Local Conditions) Acceptable is measured in micrograms per cubic meter (local conditions)


PM-10 (Standard Conditions)

Coarse particulates (PM-10) come from sources such as windblown dust from the desert or agricultural fields (sand storms) and dust kicked up on unpaved roads by vehicle traffic. PM-10 data is the near real-time measurement of particulate matter 10 microns or less in size from the surrounding air. This measurement is made at standard conditions, meaning it is corrected for local temperature and pressure.  

The table below contains hourly averages for PM-10 (Standard Conditions) on Thursday, February 9, 2012.

         
Select a Region:
AreaCAMSMorningAfternoonPOCCAMS
Mid 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:0010:0011:00Noon 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00
El Paso-Juarez - all times are in Mountain Standard Time
12 35.3125.1724.2924.4327.5336.0435.8137.8740.5145.0030.1936.1633.6625.6824.4823.6528.1731.8446.95 FEW4 N 12
37 20.9916.8016.7920.3618.5725.0565.8244.0643.8031.4821.5928.8029.1833.3924.7822.4527.3124.1357.73 FEW4 N 37
AreaCAMSMorningAfternoonPOCCAMS
Mid 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:0010:0011:00Noon 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00
San Antonio - all times are in Central Standard Time
301 15.7413.2913.0612.4214.4812.8114.4318.9619.9619.9516.7812.6211.6312.7614.4516.4515.7215.5916.2818.144 N 301
AreaCAMSMorningAfternoonPOCCAMS
Mid 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:0010:0011:00Noon 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00
Lower Rio Grande Valley - all times are in Central Standard Time
43 7.287.388.498.479.649.7210.8011.0510.5210.049.599.118.118.1610.689.3211.439.5610.329.584 N 43
80 12.9813.2312.8712.6415.6417.5518.4319.3718.7620.5520.7424.579.4214.668.335.0713.8415.7821.3325.094 N 80
Maximum values for PM-10 (Standard Conditions) for the day are bold within the table.
PM-10 (Standard Conditions) is measured in ug/cu meter (25 c)
 N - Data from this instrument does not meet EPA quality assurance criteria and cannot be used for regulatory purposes.


PLEASE NOTE:  This data has not been verified by the TCEQ and may change. This is the most current data, but it is not official until it has been certified by our technical staff. Data is collected from TCEQ ambient monitoring sites and may include data collected by other outside agencies. This data is updated hourly. All times shown are in Local Standard Time.