Twenty thousand. That’s the average amount of breaths a person will take per day. Shouldn’t everyone have the opportunity to breathe in clean air?
For Darren Riley, the founder of JustAir Solutions, the answer is yes. Riley’s activism and avid commitment to combating environmental injustices are spreading like a contagious wave of equality throughout Detroit, much like the smoke from the Canadian wildfires. His mission is to empower communities and end environmental inequities by providing innovative air pollution monitoring solutions and raising awareness about the urgent need for a healthier, cleaner future for all Detroiters.
On Wednesday, Aug. 2, Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans addressed a small room of reporters and supporters, announcing an innovative collaboration between Wayne County and JustAir Solutions. The collaboration will use the technology developed by JustAir Solutions to track and tackle air pollution.
“We do that by means of three buckets. One is operations, two is insights, but three, most of all, is community awareness,” said Riley. “Working with community leaders who know their community better than we do will really help shape and bring awareness and education around the importance of air quality. Just like the water we drink and the food we eat, the air we breathe is essential.
In the company of Evans and Riley, prominent figures such as Michigan U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Wayne County Commissioner Alisha Bell, and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed joined the event. Each of them emphasized the critical significance of elevating air quality to the forefront of public discourse.
The recent “Air Action” days in Southeast Michigan, resulting from Canadian wildfires, served as a stark reminder of the dangers of air pollution. However, for many Wayne County residents, poor air quality is an everyday reality, prompting County Executive Evans to take decisive action to tackle this problem.
JustAir Solutions is taking significant strides to advance air quality detection and protection. Their approach involves generating localized air quality insights, aiming to understand and monitor the quality of every breath we take. By doing so, they aspire to create a comprehensive air quality footprint, empowering individuals and communities with critical information to safeguard their health and well-being.
The cornerstone of this initiative is the installation of 100 stationary monitors throughout the county. These monitors will be strategically placed in collaboration with communities based on air pollution concentration and its correlation with disease burden. High-traffic roadways and areas near places where children congregate will also be monitored. By collecting critical air pollution data, such as particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and black carbon, these monitors will provide invaluable insights to guide effective interventions.
Apart from the installation of 100 stationary monitors, the project will also deploy 500 innovative mobile monitors. These advanced monitors will be equipped with Bluetooth capabilities, directly connecting to an individual’s inhaler. When the inhaler is used, it will automatically capture the air quality footprint, providing valuable insights into the timing and triggers of respiratory issues.
Portable monitors can also be attached to items like children’s backpacks, allowing for real-time tracking of air quality data during daily commutes to and from schools and other locations.
The Wayne County Community Air Quality Project is a comprehensive endeavor that will span three years, running from August 2023 to December 2026. The project will be executed in three distinct phases. Currently, the research, engagement, and planning phases are underway and will continue throughout this year. In early 2024, the deployment of monitors and project execution will take place. The monitoring and reporting will be an ongoing effort until December 2026, ensuring a thorough and continuous assessment of air quality across the county.
This groundbreaking innovation is especially significant due to the disproportionate number of children and adults residing in areas affected by environmental racism. By empowering individuals with this technology, the project aims to address the environmental disparities and ensure equitable access to clean air for all communities.
With the official launch of the project, one of its most immediate benefits is the collection of comprehensive data on air pollution. These valuable reports will serve as the foundation for shaping policies, identifying areas of concern, and holding offenders accountable. The data gathered will play a crucial role in creating targeted policies with clear definitions and effective consequences.
To ensure accountability, the project plans to impose fines and strict deadlines for rectifying any air quality issues found to be originating from offending sources. By developing a reliable and detailed database, the policies derived will have the necessary precision to address specific challenges and deliver meaningful impact in the fight for cleaner air.
County Executive Evans acknowledged the urgency of addressing environmental injustices, stating, “Far too many of our residents have had to breathe the fumes from incinerators, factories, and idling trucks. Our kids suffer more from asthma than in almost any other part of Michigan. That environmental injustice has got to stop.”
In addition to the benefits of clean air, this new initiative will create employment opportunities, adding a significant branch to the ecosystem. The leaders involved in this project have devised plans to train young workers in building, operating, and maintaining the monitoring systems. By doing so, they aim to instill in the new generation of workers a deep understanding of the importance of air quality and equip them to advocate for change within this sector. This effort not only strengthens the workforce but also fosters a culture of continuous advocacy and progress in safeguarding air quality for future generations.
The collaboration between Wayne County and JustAir Solutions promises to improve the region’s air quality and enhance the well-being of its residents. Riley highlighted the importance of this project in mitigating health disparities.
“Poor air quality impacts everyone,” he said, “but people with asthma and other health ailments are impacted the most. Wayne County residents have some of the highest rates of asthma in the state, and our data and alert system can literally save lives.”
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