Detroit air quality gets another F from American Lung Association

April 23, 2026

The American Lung Association's annual State of the Air report has given Detroit's air quality a failing grade, revealing that both ozone and fine particulate matter pollution have deteriorated in the region. The Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor area now ranks 11th nationally for short-term particle pollution and 9th for year-round PM2. 5, with Wayne County experiencing increased unhealthy air days between 2022 and 2024.

Who is affected

Residents of the Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor metropolitan area
Wayne County residents specifically
Nearly half (46%) of U.S. children under 18 years old living in areas with failing pollution grades
Infants, children, and teens with developing lungs
People working outdoors
People with asthma and cardiopulmonary conditions
Communities of color (people of color are more than twice as likely as white people to live in areas with failing grades on all three pollution measures)
Hispanic communities (over three times as likely to live in failing areas)

What action is being taken

The EPA is weakening enforcement and rolling back rules that would have protected children from power plant and vehicle pollution
Data centers are building their own on-site fossil fuel power plants
Most data centers are relying on regional power grids where coal and methane gas still make up a significant portion of power generation

Why it matters

Air pollution in the Detroit area poses serious health risks, as PM2.5 particles can lodge in lung cells and enter the bloodstream, causing cardiopulmonary illness, premature mortality, and mental health issues, while ozone pollution triggers respiratory problems and asthma attacks. The deteriorating air quality disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, particularly children whose developing lungs breathe in more air relative to body size, and communities of color who face environmental injustice. The weakening of EPA protections at a time when climate change is already undermining previous air quality improvements represents a critical threat to public health. The expansion of fossil fuel-powered data centers threatens to further worsen air quality, making immediate policy action essential to protect Michigan residents from additional health burdens.

What's next

The American Lung Association urges Michigan policymakers to take action to improve air quality
The lung association specifically calls for ensuring that any data center proposals be designed in partnership with the community and powered by renewable, zero-emission energy sources

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com