American Lung Association Gives Detroit Area An F For Air Quality

Detroit refinery (Deposit photos)

The Detroit areas air quality again received an F in the American Lung Association’s annual State of the Air report, Planet Detroit reports.

The 2026 report found levels of ozone and fine particulate matter have worsened slightly. The report lists Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor as the cities included in its report.

Brian Allnut of Planet Detroit reports:

The report ranks Detroit among the top 25 worst regions nationally for short-term particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution and year-round PM2.5.

The Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor region ranks No. 11 for short-term particle pollution, worse than its No. 22 placement in 2025; and No. 9 for year-round PM2.5, an improvement from its No. 6 ranking last year. Wayne County’s annual unhealthy PM2.5 days rose from an average of 8.5 to 9.3.

PM 2.5 is 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair and can lodge itself in lung cells and move into the bloodstream. It’s linked to cardiopulmonary illness, premature mortality and mental health issues.   

See the report