Overview:
-New data shows vast majority of Detroit's 5,000 bus stops have poor shade.
-Seasonal mold and fungi allergies are starting three weeks earlier than they did 20 years ago, according to University of Michigan research.
-The population of Great Lakes whitefish is collapsing due to invasive quagga mussels, which strip nutrients from the water.
🚏 90% of Detroit bus stops lack adequate shade, exposing 85,000 daily riders to heat Heat is now the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S., claiming 12,000 lives annually. New data from American Forests and UCLA identifies “shade deserts” in over 100 cities, including Detroit. About 90% of Detroit’s 5,000 bus stops have poor shade, exposing 85,000 daily transit riders to dangerous heat. Less than 60% of Detroit households have air conditioning, making shade crucial for public health as temperatures rise due to urban heat island effects. 📌 Source: WDET
🤧 Mold allergy season starts 3 weeks earlier due to climate change, U-M study finds Seasonal allergies caused by mold and fungi now start three weeks earlier than 20 years ago due to climate change, according to University of Michigan research published in GeoHealth. The fungal spore allergy season arrived 22 days earlier in 2022 than 2003 nationwide. A St. Clair Shores monitoring station observed the season shifting from early July to mid-June. California sees the most dramatic change, with seasons starting nearly three months earlier over the study period. Source: 📌 Bridge Michigan
🚒 East side oil facility fire extinguished A Monday morning fire at Aevitas Specialty Services Corp.’s oil recycling facility on Detroit’s east side was brought under control after firefighters responded to reports of popping sounds around 5 a.m. One firefighter sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The company activated emergency protocols, sealing sewers and removing oils. Detroit City Councilwoman Mary Waters demanded a federal and state investigation, calling it a potential environmental crime affecting east side residents. The fire cause remains under investigation, with cleanup efforts ongoing. Source: 📌 The Detroit News
🏗️ Industry groups sue to block Michigan’s updated residential building codes Building industry groups are suing Michigan to block new energy efficiency requirements for homes set to take effect August 29, arguing upfront costs are too high amid a housing shortage. The Home Builders Association and Michigan Manufactured Housing Association say the codes would add $16,000 to a 2,000-square-foot home’s cost. Environmental groups counter that homeowners would save $396 annually on utilities, with positive cashflow within two to six years through reduced energy bills offsetting higher mortgage payments. 📌 Source: MLive
🎣 Crystal-clear waters signal disaster for Great Lakes whitefish population Great Lakes whitefish, Michigan’s signature fish for millennia, are collapsing in lakes Michigan and Huron due to invasive quagga mussels that have stripped nutrients from the water. Commercial harvests plummeted from 6.9 million pounds in 2009 to under 2 million in 2024. The mussels filter entire lakes biweekly, creating crystal-clear but lifeless waters where baby whitefish starve. Scientists fear the species may disappear entirely from Lower Peninsula waters within a decade. 📌 Source: Bridge Michigan
🦠 Health official warns of ‘troubling resurgence’ after Kent County measles case A young child in Kent County who recently traveled internationally has measles, marking Michigan’s 17th confirmed case in 2025 and the second in Kent County since April. The child exposed others at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital’s emergency room between 11:38 p.m. June 27 and 12:06 a.m. June 28. A “troubling resurgence” of vaccine-preventable diseases is occurring, says Kent County’s health officer. 📌 Source: Detroit Free Press