According to a report from the environmental group Air Alliance Houston, Altivia Oxide Chemicals had the highest number of high-priority pollution violations and penalties paid. (Shinonome Studio/Adobe Stock)

The environmental group Air Alliance Houston has released its list of the top 12 air polluters in Harris County, calling them the “Dirty Dozen.”

The nonprofit used data from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. According to the report, the top three polluters are ExxonMobil and Chevron Phillips in Baytown, and LyondellBasell in Channelview.

Inyang Uwak, research and policy director for the group, said the emissions also are worsening climate change.

“From heat waves to an increase in precipitation; I mean, the last past three days, we had high precipitation, you know, the rains just kept coming,” Uwak pointed out. “They’re also more frequent and severe in nature. We are still getting over the impacts of Hurricane Beryl.”

The group’s research shows most of the polluters are located in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods in East Harris County. Uwak noted they will share the results with state regulators.

Uwak emphasized members of Air Alliance Houston hope the results of the study will influence regulators on permitting and regulations.

“We need them to have more rules at the state level that take into consideration the cumulative impact of these exposures,” Uwak contended. “We also need TCEQ to acknowledge the community’s power to advocate for their health.”

The Houston area has more than 600 chemical manufacturing facilities. Research shows continuous exposure to toxic chemicals leads to health issues and sometimes death.

Uwak added residents voice their concerns but often feel like they are not heard.

“It is one thing for the community to really show up at these permit meetings,” Uwak stressed. “But it is more important that these comments influence TCEQ’s decisions.”