HOW SAFE IS MY AIR QUALITY?

Worsening climate change increases the number of hot days we experience every year. On the hottest days, ground-level ozone pollution increases, acting as a blanket that helps trap other pollutants while also agitating respiratory symptoms and conditions, especially asthma.

Extreme heat sparks particularly dangerous conditions in areas like Detroit, where tree coverage is only at three percent in some areas. Sparse tree canopies help fuel the urban heat island effect that leads to increased temperatures in urban areas. Hotter temperatures lead to increased use of air conditioning units, which further pollute the air. In underserved communities, many residents can’t afford to have air, run air, and/or have aging power grids that can’t handle the energy needed to run them. You can view a map of heat in Detroit here.

Heatwaves can also bring damage from afar, from areas where extreme temperatures can lead to droughts and wildfires. Beyond the physical devastation and loss of life or goods, forest fires add more carbon dioxide and other dangerous chemicals into the air. That contaminated air then spreads to other areas and can cross state lines.

“We’re seeing particle pollution grades in big parts of the country increase due to all the wildfires,” Fletcher told Planet Detroit. “That air drifts and the particle pollution spreads to other states not even being impacted directly by the fire. So it impacts all of us.”

The first step in protecting yourself from air pollution is knowledge. Learn about air pollution and its health effects. Become familiar with industries in your neighborhood. Companies like Marathon Oil have repeated violations from the EPA. Find out about such occurrences and report them when possible. The state’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) air quality division offers an online form to submit complaints for air quality violations.

You can also pay attention to weather alerts that warn about bad air quality days, such as ozone alert days when unhealthy ozone levels are predicted. Limit vigorous activity and exercise during those days, and if able, go or stay inside somewhere with cool air and a good filtration system.

Fletcher said that while some people may feel their individual actions may not make much of a difference, collectively, individuals can create change – starting with heeding ozone alert days. He said folks should avoid driving, mowing lawns and filling up their gas tanks on such days. Even backyard bonfires and personal charcoal grills negatively affect our air.

“Even wood in your firepit puts particle pollution into the air,” Fletcher said. “It’s definitely bad for people with asthma, COPD, and other conditions… We often hear from people with asthma that live next to people who have backyard fire pits, and it causes problems.”

Making changes inside the home also lowers risk. Many household items, appliances and activities can add particulate pollutants to the air, including cigarette smoke, harsh household cleaners, mold, dust mites, pollen, pet dander, wood-burning stoves or fireplaces, candles, incense and improper ventilation.

You can help combat indoor air pollutants by:

• Ventilating your home
• Open windows so that bad air gets rotated outside
• Avoid smoking indoors (or quit!)
• Use natural household cleaning products
• Speaking of clean, keep it that way: Dust and vacuum often, reduce clutter
• Wash bed coverings weekly in hot water
• Reduce indoor air moisture with a dehumidifier
• Fix leaky pipes and faucets that contribute to moisture, mold formation
• Use craft materials, such as paint, in well-ventilated areas
• Use carbon monoxide detectors
• Able to afford an air purifier? Make sure it’s a high-efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) or it could make the air worse
• Purchase an air quality monitor if possible
• Keep up on any health changes and get symptoms checked out
• Checking on the most vulnerable in your neighborhood and family

Battling air pollution as an individual can feel overwhelming, especially when much of the change needs to happen at systemic levels. Many solutions, like installing air filters, require money, and many people can’t afford those solutions.

Here are some organizations you can get involved with or support who are working to combat air pollution and respiratory diseases:

• Community Action to Promote Healthy Environments
• Environmental Health Research-to-Action 
• Ecology Center
• Eastside Community Network
• Southwest Detroit Community Benefits Coalition
• Great Lake Environmental Law Center
• The Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center
• The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America - Michigan Chapter

And here are some tools to help you learn more about your local air quality:

• Learn about the enforcement and compliance history of regulated facilities in your area with this tool from the U.S. EPA
• Learn about how your area stacks up with EPA's EJScreen
• Look at live local air monitoring data
• Click here for Air Quality readings by typing in a zip code.
• Submit an air quality complaint and more here.
• Read air quality reporting from Planet Detroit

Dr. Natalie Sampson, an associate professor of public health at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, co-founded the Environmental Health Research-to-Action group at the University of Michigan Dearborn with Dr. Carmel Price, associate professor of sociology at UM-Dearborn, too, and community member Karima Alwishah. Sampson said that although local governments are often underfunded and lack resources to take steps to battle for public health and environmental justice, officials can still do more to help make change. And, she added, individuals can help hold those public officials accountable by attending meetings, asking questions and learning about zoning laws.

Sampson advises coming to community meetings armed with information about how issues are affecting your area. Information from equipment such as air quality monitors is helpful, but it’s not the only way to gather data. Residents can take note of increases in traffic on their streets, especially trucks, smells in the air, changes in their health during certain times, occurrences of coughing or headaches, and more. Knowledge equals power.