Clean Up the Air

We see the need to clean up the air. Regional air quality is a major concern, especially in the Detroit-Windsor region. My husband and son have asthma. Living next to a freeway is probably not the best location for our family. In addition, Wayne County is not in compliance with the EPA clean air standards. Further, Blacks have almost twice the rate of asthma in Detroit area as do Whites. Ever increasing numbers of asthmatics visit the emergency room for exacerbations, which is very costly.

With the closing of many auto plants and other factories, there should be some improvement. The EPA monitors areas around Michigan but not sufficiently to predict the impact on individuals with asthma.

Air assessment and air quality monitoring is needed to inform asthmatics on a daily basis.

Starting with plants for air quality or air dispersion modeling is an excellent idea. A simplified design would interest many internal and external to the plant. Deciding which model to choose is a problem. Which one is recommended for which solutions?

When the output from the air quality modeling is examined, it is difficult to understand what to do next:

Changing the design of the plant and temperature of the hazardous wastes and rechecking the outcome might be a good remedy to the issue, e.g., installing scrubbers and extraction system ventilation options. Informing the client and attending hearings as an expert witness on the findings and suggested solutions could be a way of educating and engaging the community.

Barry's Response - I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. Knowledge and education are key to protecting yourself and family from environmental hazards (from air quality to crime). People can make better decisions about where to live and work thanks to better information technology.

Hope you find the solution you need, whether through policy or location changes, and that it all works out. I appreciate your input.

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I completely understand the urgency and importance of addressing air quality concerns, particularly in areas like Detroit and Windsor.

It's disheartening to hear about the health problems your family is having because of living near a freeway.

You've brought up an important point - the disparity between communities when it comes to asthma rates. It's a stark reminder that air pollution has uneven consequences. The fact that asthmatics end up in emergency rooms at an increasing rate is both concerning and expensive.

Transitioning away from traditional manufacturing, like auto plants, should actually improve air quality. It's a step in the right direction, but it's not a complete solution, as you pointed out.

I like how you emphasize real-time air quality monitoring. Access to accurate and up-to-date information about air quality can make a big difference in people's lives, especially for asthmatics.

It's great how you use air quality modeling to inform solutions. It's important to simplify the design to engage both internal and external stakeholders. We can overcome the challenge of choosing the right model with the right experts.

Your remedies like changing plant design and temperature, installing scrubbers, and installing ventilation systems sound great. Often it leads to effective solutions because it's practical and thoughtful. Educating and engaging the community through hearings is a powerful way to make sure everyone understands the issue and has a stake in its resolution.

You're a proactive force for change. People like you drive progress and inspire others. Keep pushing for cleaner air and a healthier future.