How the City of Detroit monitors air quality

The city has installed 5 air quality monitors located at the Detroit Police Department Sixth Precinct, Detroit Police Department Sixth Precinct, Detroit Police Department Harbormaster Unit, Chandler Park Service Yard and Joseph Walker Williams Recreation Center. These locations were chosen to best serve our communities and work with EGLE’s current monitors, creating a network of Air Quality Monitors for the city. 

Meet the Monitors

Teledyne API T 640x 

This is a real-time, continuous particulate matter (PM) mass monitor that measures PM 2.5, 10, and coarse PM in the air at 1-min intervals.  

This is a certified federal reference method (FRM) monitor.   FRM monitors are highly accurate and approved by the EPA to monitor compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The data obtained from FRMs are held to rigorous quality assurance standards. 

TSP Sampler

A Total suspended particulate (TSP) sampler is used for the collection of particulate matter in ambient air with no preference to size selection.  Air is passed through a filter which is then analyzed for specific materials.

Clarity Monitor - Solar Powered-Real time Portable Monitor 

These monitors will be placed in areas where the city needs more information on the air quality. It can pinpoint hot spots.  

National Air Quality Standards

The Clean Air Act (CAA) plays a critical role in regulating air quality. The Act’s key component is the establishment of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)designed to protect public health and the environment from harmful effects of air pollution. The EPA sets NAAQS for six major pollutants often referred to as “criteria pollutants”. Primary standards are designed to protect public health, including the health of sensitive populations such as children, the elderly and people with respiratory conditions like asthma.
Secondary standards are aimed at protecting public welfare. This includes safeguarding the environment, preventing damage to vegetation, wildlife and buildings, and reducing issues like decreased visibility caused by air pollution.

(1) In areas designated nonattainment for the Pb standards prior to the promulgation of the current (2008) standards, and for which implementation plans to attain or maintain the current (2008) standards have not been submitted and approved, the previous standards (1.5 µg/m3 as a calendar quarter average) also remain in effect.

(2) The level of the annual NO₂ standard is 0.053 ppm. It is shown here in terms of ppb for the purposes of clearer comparison to the 1-hour standard level.

(3) Final rule signed October 1, 2015, and effective December 28, 2015. The previous (2008) O₃ standards are not revoked and remain in effect for designated areas. Additionally, some areas may have certain continuing implementation obligations under the prior revoked 1-hour (1979) and 8-hour (1997) O₃ standards.

(4) The previous SO₂ standards (0.14 ppm 24-hour and 0.03 ppm annual) will additionally remain in effect in certain areas: (1) any area for which it is not yet 1 year since the effective date of designation under the current (2010) standards, and (2)any area for which an implementation plan providing for attainment of the current (2010) standard has not been submitted and approved and which is designated nonattainment under the previous SO₂ standards or is not meeting the requirements of a SIP call under the previous SO₂ standards (40 CFR 50.4(3)).  A SIP call is an EPA action requiring a state to resubmit all or part of its State Implementation Plan to demonstrate attainment of the required NAAQS.

Criteria Air Pollutants  

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

CO is a colorless, odorless gas that can be harmful when inhaled in large amounts. CO is released when something is burned. The greatest source of CO to outdoor air is vehicles.

Lead (Pb)    

Major sources of lead in the air are ore and metals processing and aircraft using leaded aviation fuel. Other sources of lead are waste incinerators, utilities, and lead-acid battery manufacturers. The highest air concentrations of lead are usually found near lead smelters.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

NO2 primarily gets in the air from the burning of fuel. NO2 forms from emissions from cars, trucks and buses, power plants, and off-road equipment.    

Ozone (O3)

Ozone is not emitted directly into the air; it is created when certain pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, chemical plants, and other sources chemically react with sunlight.    

Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5 = inhalable particles)

PM stands for particulate matter (also called particle pollution) it is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. Others are so small they can only be detected using an electron microscope.

Particulate matter contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can be inhaled and cause serious health problems. Some particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter can get deep into your lungs and some may even get into your bloodstream.  

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)    

The largest source of SO2 in the air is the burning of fossil fuels by power plants and other industrial facilities. Smaller sources of SO2 emissions include industrial processes such as extracting metal from ore; coal burning locomotives, ships and heavy equipment that burn fuel with a high sulfur content.