Melting snow prompts air quality alert for Southeast Michigan

An air high quality advisory is in impact for Macomb County and surrounding communities till midday on Monday, Feb. 16, as a consequence of melting snow, state air regulators mentioned.

The Michigan Division of Atmosphere, Nice Lakes, and Vitality (EGLE) issued the alert this morning, warning of elevated ranges of particulate matter in Southeast Michigan. The pollution within the area are anticipated to fall inside the vary of unhealthy for delicate teams.

Officers mentioned the advisory is in impact for Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne counties.

“Floor temperatures reaching 50 levels Celsius have accelerated snowmelt, releasing particles into the environment,” Alec Kownacki, a meteorologist for EGLE’s Air High quality Division, mentioned in a information launch. “Particles turn into trapped within the snow because it falls and when that snow melts, those self same particles are launched into the air. Mix warming temperatures with gentle winds via at this time into Sunday, and PM-2.5 concentrations are anticipated to be within the unhealthy vary for delicate teams as a consequence of a scarcity of atmospheric dispersion.”

To be clear, the advisory is just not as a consequence of smoke from wildfires, however to natural compounds and different pollution trapped in snowfall and launched into the air because it melts, Kownacki mentioned.

Extra pointers from EGLE:

• If attainable, keep away from strenuous out of doors actions, particularly these related to coronary heart illness and respiratory circumstances corresponding to bronchial asthma
• Examine for signs corresponding to wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or a burning sensation within the nostril, throat, and eyes
• Scale back or get rid of actions that contribute to air air pollution, corresponding to:out of doors combustion or use of wooden burning home equipment in properties

Regulators mentioned it’s comparatively uncommon for an air high quality advisory to be issued within the winter months, however as snow melts it releases small particles trapped within the snow. This contains mud, street salt, sand, automobile exhaust fumes and different advantageous dust. Usually, wind and rising air assist carry these particles up and away so they’re redistributed and turn into much less concentrated, however that does not occur.

Ideas for households embrace conserving home windows closed at night time to stop smoke from coming in and, if attainable, utilizing central air-con with filters of MERV-13 or increased.

For extra data, go to the DHHS Wildfire Smoke and Your Well being web site: michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/environmental-health/your-health-and-wildfire-smoke