Texas facilities released 3.5m pounds of extra pollutants during winter storm

Emissions releases affected communities that are already disproportionately exposed to pollution

Oil refineries, chemical manufacturers and other industrial plants in Texas reported releasing around 3.5m pounds of extra pollutants into the air during last week's freezing temperatures.

Extreme weather and electric grid failure resulted in 200 facilities across 54 counties reporting excess release of pollutants between 11 February and 22 February, according to analysis done by Air Alliance Houston, Environment Texas and Environmental Defense Fund. They scanned the databases for emission events that were filed to the state regulators.