Fires, Drought & Cars Combine For Austin's Worst Smog Season In Five Years

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AUSTIN (KXAN) - With eight high ozone days so far this year, Austin is suffering from the worst smog season since 2006. The influx of drivers on the road, industrial fumes from power plants and the active wildfire season have all contributed to more pollution in Austin's skies, according to Environment Texas .

The non-profit advocacy organization released a study Wednesday showing the smoggiest cities in the state. Houston is ranked the smoggiest large metropolitan area in 2010 in Texas and the sixth smoggiest large metropolitan area in 2010. Fort Worth-Arlington and Dallas were ranked the 14th and 23rd smoggiest large metropolitan areas in the country.

Environment Texas director Luke Metzger said even though Austin doesn't make the list it is still on a troublesome path.

"Austin is quickly moving up the ranks and we have had a serious problem for a number of years now, but it's now in fact getting so bad that we may soon come into non-compliance with federal law and join the ranks of Houston and Dallas," he said.

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http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/worst-smog-season-since-2006