Exclusive: Houston air quality held steady during World Cup, data shows

• On match days, average AQI ranged from about 14 to 29.

How it works: Air Alliance Houston measured pollution in part through 15 new air quality monitors and two larger monitoring stations installed before the tournament in the Green Corridor, a 14-mile route linking the Fan Festival in East Downtown to Reliant Stadium.

Between the lines: More traffic typically means more vehicle emissions, making air quality a potential concern as Houston welcomed thousands of visitors for the tournament.

• But the group's measurements suggest the influx of visitors did not significantly worsen Houston's already poor air quality.

What they're saying: "Air quality levels in the area remained near expected levels during this time of the year - perhaps a consequence of increased multimodal public transportation provided by the city," Anthony D'Souza, the community air monitoring program manager, said in a statement to Axios.

• D'Souza noted there were some peaks in nitrogen dioxide and ozone in late July, but that was after the tournament had ended.