Agencies are raising awareness about air quality around the country this week.

Led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Air Quality Awareness Week is highlighting the effects of poor air, with a special focus on wildfires and smoke today.

Sally Hunter, smoke management analyst for the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, said smoke can have milder effects such as stinging eyes to more serious ones like exacerbating heart and lung conditions. Hunter noted there are also investigations into the mental health effects of exposure to poor air quality, especially wildfire smoke.

"Having these really long smoke events where you're being told to stay indoors every day and not go out and do activities and you just start to feel, kind of, 'I'm stuck in the house again and again and again because of wildfire events,'" Hunter explained. "It impacts a lot."

The theme for this year's awareness week is knowing your air, and officials are encouraging people to look into monitoring resources, such as the air quality index. In June, the Northwest holds Smoke Ready Week to prepare for the wildfire season.

While smoke may not be an invisible threat, Hunter noted its effects are often overlooked.

"With fires, I think people a lot of times of course focus on the fire itself, how dangerous fires can be for communities," Hunter acknowledged. "I think sometimes the smoke aspect of it gets a little left behind."

On Tuesday, the focus is on asthma. May 7 is World Asthma Day.


get more stories like this via email

Leaders in Michigan are marking the historic new clean car standards, finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The final rule, Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles, was announced in March.

Michigan leaders are celebrating the move as a positive step in the fight against climate change.

State Rep. Jasper Martus, D-Flushing, said many people think of climate change and creating good jobs as two separate issues, but he said he believes the two go hand-in-hand.

"When we pursue policies that combat climate change, such as investing in electric vehicles, having higher standards for the vehicles that are produced here in Michigan and the United States," said Martus, "we can do it in such a way that creates good paying jobs."

The new standards will phase in over model years 2027 through 2032.

Martus said in addition to creating new jobs, the transition to electric vehicles will also decrease pain at the pump resulting from sky high gas prices.

He added he believes it's time for companies that make EVs to make their pitch to the public.

"We're not to the point now where everything is going to be electric vehicles overnight," said Martus. "We're not even at the point where everything could be a hybrid overnight. But we're beginning that process of these companies making electric vehicles need to make the pitch."

Martus added that as EV makers pitch their product, consumers will eventually see the prices of the vehicles come down - making them just as competitive, if not more so, than traditional vehicles.




get more stories like this via email

Agencies are raising awareness about air quality across the country this week.

Led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Air Quality Awareness Week is highlighting the effects of poor air, with a special focus on wildfires and smoke today.

Travis Knudsen, public affairs manager for the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency, said small particles known as PM 2.5 in wildfire smoke can cause itchy eyes, coughing and other short-term respiratory problems.

"If you are someone who already suffers from respiratory issues, like you have asthma, it makes those acute symptoms that much more challenging and potentially problematic from a health perspective," Knudsen explained.

Knudsen said PM 2.5 particles can penetrate deep into the lungs. He also noted the Northwest is seeing more wildfires and his agency attributes it to climate change.

Smoke from wildfire season is at its peak in the Northwest starting around midsummer and lasting through early fall. Knudsen advised people to check the air quality index during smoke season, and pointed out people might need to reschedule their outside activities -- such as running or working out -- based on the air quality.

"Maybe when our quality is bad we reconsider those outdoor activities and instead just stay inside with a HEPA air purifier running so we are not being exposed to that harmful pollution from wildfire smoke," Knudsen suggested.

On Tuesday, the focus is on asthma. May 7 is World Asthma Day.


get more stories like this via email

Most school and transit buses on the nation's roadways these days are still powered by diesel engines but in Wisconsin and elsewhere, there is hope about the push to switch to electric fleets.

The city of Racine has made headlines in recent years for leveraging federal funds to add more electric buses operated by its transit agency. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, school systems such as the Palmyra-Eagle district have used federal grants to buy a handful of buses fitted with such technology.

Susan Mudd, senior policy advocate for the Environmental Law and Policy Center, a Midwest-based advocacy group, said it is encouraging to see the activity, knowing benefits will come with it.

"The children or the riders on buses, including the drivers, will experience zero tailpipe emissions," Mudd pointed out. "Which they now do, because fumes, unfortunately, often get circulated into buses."

The new models also prevent harmful emissions from floating through neighborhoods, especially when buses are idled. Mudd noted it has a positive effect on human health, as well as mitigating climate change, with transportation making up nearly 30% of U.S. carbon emissions. But even with federal support, she acknowledged there are still upfront cost barriers in securing electric buses.

Mudd added implementing charging stations for larger electric bus fleets can be more intensive than infrastructure for passenger models.

"It definitely requires more equipment," Mudd said. "(It) may require transformer upgrades and that is more costly."

Organizations like hers are appealing to utilities to help make the infrastructure more accessible to schools and transit agencies. Once they get past the initial expenses, supporters said the efforts help schools and municipalities reduce their fuel costs.

In late 2022, Wisconsin received more than $25 million in federal support to replace 65 diesel school buses around the state with electric ones.