air quality

The sun is helping some local residents identify the quality of the air. The City of Ann Arbor has launched a network of ten solar-powered air quality monitors placed across the city. Residents can now track local conditions through a publicly available online map and subscribe to receive station-specific alerts when air quality reaches "Unhealthy” levels. How does it work and what does it mean for the future? Find out in a conversation between WEMU's David Fair and Sean Reynolds, senior analyst for the city’s Office of Sustainability and Innovations.

The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners has advice for fellow local governments regarding data centers. Proceed with caution. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Michigan’s air quality has nosedived in recent weeks, due to wildfire smoke from Canada. At one point, Detroit was listed as the third most polluted city in the world. The blanket of haze that has covered the region, including Washtenaw County, has prompted several air quality advisories. WEMU's Caroline MacGregor talks to Dr. MeiLan Han, Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care at the University of Michigan Health, to get a better understanding of how particulate matter from wildfire smoke affects our overall health.

An air quality alert remains in effect for Washtenaw County and is expected to continue for the next couple of days. WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor reports.

If you live in Northeast Washtenaw County, you know about living with a with an unpleasant odor. Residents in Salem and Northville Townships have long complained about the smell emanating from the Arbor Hills Landfill. WEMU's David Fair checked in with the District Supervisor for Air Quality at the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) on the matter. Scott Miller discussed the ongoing efforts to address odors and air quality in the area.

The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners is being asked to throw its support behind a major initiative to build and renovate healthy housing in Michigan. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

The 4th of July is right around the corner, and that means fireworks season. A lot of folks like to set off their own, but there are rules and regulations to follow. Additionally, it’s been unusually dry, and fire hazards are abundant. WEMU's David Fair caught up with Ann Arbor Fire Chief, Mike Kennedy, to talk about how to have a safe fireworks season and protect the environment.

Air quality continues to be an issue, and with a warming climate, the efforts at improvement may become more difficult. The federal EPA has curiously ruled that Washtenaw County and Southeast Michigan now meet attainment status for ground-level ozone. Environmental advocates, including the director of the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center, says the process used to make the determination is questionable. Nick Leonard joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the challenges ahead.

As of right now, the air quality levels are at “good” in Washtenaw County. The rain and clouds from this past weekend may have played a role in that improvement. WEMU’s Josh Hakala reports.

Air quality levels are at an unhealthy level in Washtenaw County, according to the state of Michigan’s environmental data. As a result, Ann Arbor Public Schools issued an advisory to parents and students. WEMU’s Josh Hakala reports.