Media Advisory: EGLE issues air quality alerts for ground level ozone but neglects to regulate industries responsible

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, Energy (EGLE) issued an air quality alert, warning of high levels of ground level ozone for several counties in Southeast and West Michigan for June 29 and June 30.

Ozone pollution has been consistently above the health-based standard at the East 7 Mile monitor in Detroit. Nonetheless, EGLE and the Environmental Protection Agency have repeatedly sought to blame wildfire smoke rather than local pollution sources for Detroit’s ozone problems, exempting industries from taking action to lower pollution. 

The Clean Air Act allows states to exclude ozone data if it can be shown that the high levels of pollution were clearly caused by an “exceptional event,” such as wildfire smoke. EGLE has frequently relied on the exceptional event loophole to exclude bad ozone days. EGLE has sought to exclude 21 days of ozone data from six monitoring sites over the past four years, including six days of ozone data from the East 7 Mile monitor. This week’s air quality advisory made no mention of potential smoke impacts on ozone levels this week. 

In light of the heat wave and elevated levels this week, legal experts, health professionals and community leaders are available to comment on the health effects of ground level ozone and the need for tightened regulations on ground level ozone.

Contact Teresa Homsi at teresa@michigancca.com or 281-881-7165 to be connected to the following sources:

• Nick Leonard - Great Lakes Environmental Law Center

• Kathleen Slonager, RN, AE-C - Executive Director, Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America - Michigan Chapter

• Mary-Jacqueline K. Muli, BSN, RN - Climate Justice Nurse

• Elizabeth A. DelBuono, MD - Board Chair, Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action

• Mia McPherson, RN - Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments 

• Ellen Vial, Michigan Environmental Council

“EGLE’s ozone advisory suggests residents drive less, avoid refueling vehicles and using charcoal lighter fluid and gasoline-powered lawn equipment, which are fine actions to take, but their alert glaringly avoids the larger industry’s responsibility and role to uphold air quality standards,” said Teresa Homsi, MPH, Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action. “This omission is consistent with the department’s previous use of legal loopholes to exempt air quality data that still harms the public’s health but would be inconvenient to industry.”

“I worry about the children living in these areas”, said Dr. Elizabeth (Lisa Del Buono), MD, Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action. “Elevated levels of ground level ozone, especially when combined with extreme heat and humidity, can trigger life-threatening asthma attacks, while chronic exposure to air pollution can have long term consequences for children’s health, including diminished lung capacity and learning difficulties. EGLE should focus on reducing emissions from Detroit’s transportation and industrial sectors - sources we can control - rather than blaming wildfire smoke from Canada which is beyond our control.”

“As a registered nurse, I am acutely aware of the harmful effects of ground-level ozone on my patients’ health,” said Mary-Jacqueline K. Muli, BSN, RN, the Climate Justice Nurse. “Even without wildfire smoke, we see increased asthma attacks and exacerbations of Congestive Heart Failure and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It is concerning that EGLE and the EPA downplay this suffering by not addressing the primary sources of pollution. Detroit's outdated practices still allow industry to thrive in residential neighborhoods, compromising the health of our community.”

Further Background:

EGLE’s ozone advisory was issued on the same day the Environmental Protection Agency closed its comment period for a proposal to declare that Detroit has “attained” federal ozone air quality standards.

Ozone is formed when volatile organic compounds mix with nitrogen oxides in hot, sunny conditions. Based on the intense heat and sunny weather projected for this week, EGLE anticipates ozone concentrations to be elevated this week, into the Fourth of July weekend. As such, Detroiters are likely to be burdened with elevated levels of pollution at cookouts and holiday parties throughout the week.