Detroit area ranks sixth worst in pollution report
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The Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor region is the sixth worst in the country for year-round particle pollution, per a new report.
Why it matters: The findings, which predate the current Trump administration, come as the White House is reconsidering EPA rules and regulations meant to curb pollution and promote cleaner air.
Driving the news: Nearly half of Americans are now exposed to potentially dangerous levels of ozone or particle pollution, per the American Lung Association's 2025 State of the Air report.
- Detroit remains high on the list of regions where annual pollution levels exceed air quality standards.
Zoom in: Our region's average annual concentration of particle pollution has been slowly rising, from 10.9 micrograms per cubic meter in 2018-20 to 13 in 2021-23.
- That's compared with values for the cleanest cities, between 4-6 micrograms per cubic meter.
Between the lines: Extreme heat, wildfires and drought are degrading air quality nationwide, the Lung Association says, though pollution from industry and trucking remains a factor.
- Air pollution is associated with an array of health conditions, from wheezing and coughing to asthma and premature death.
How it works: The report uses local air quality data to grade and rank locations based on ozone pollution, daily particle pollution and annual particle pollution.
- This latest report includes data from 2021-2023, "the most recent three years of quality-assured nationwide air pollution data publicly available."
What they're saying: "Clearly, we need to do more to control the pollutants that are impacting our changing climate … instead of thinking about how to roll them back," says Katherine Pruitt, senior director of nationwide clean air policy at the American Lung Association and report author.
Context: Detroit has long been burdened disproportionately by industry and pollution. As a result, environmental activists often push for better enforcement, stricter regulations and fewer plants near homes.
The latest: New legislation introduced last year aimed to protect cities, such as Detroit, that feel the brunt of pollution from new permits for pollution-heavy businesses, per Planet Detroit.
- In the most recent action, the bill was referred to committee in July.