How bad are health and air pollution around the Detroit-Windsor Ambassador Bridge?

[twyla158]

The Ambassador Bridge that connects Detroit to Windsor is one of the busiest international bridges in the world. Road dust and vehicle emissions are major contributors to particulate around the bridge, which impacts health and air quality. Increased security has led to long delays, especially for large trucks. Four Michigan Department of Environmental Quality air monitoring stations located north and east of the Ambassador Bridge assess Wayne County’s current U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards attainment status. In 2007, Wayne County was a non-attainment area for ozone and PM2.5. What is being done to change this situation?

A multi-million dollar Enhancement Project is almost complete that provides four full service traffic lanes, which should provide for better traffic flow and less idling of trucks.

There are plans to build a new bridge about a mile down the river from the Ambassador, but the plans are facing numerous obstacles. Reportedly, truck and car traffic has been decreasing since 1999. With the downturn in the economy and the closure of many auto plants, traffic is expected to decrease even more.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken steps to improve air quality by increasing the emission standards and established diesel emission standards for new trucks and buses manufactured after 2007. These actions can reduce some pollutants substantially but it will be years before we see the results.

States have been encouraged to retrofit existing diesel vehicles with pollution controls, implement emissions testing programs for diesel engines, create and implement anti-idling programs, and promote cleaner fuel usage.

How can we ensure that these items are being implemented in Michigan or in the Detroit area? What are the health impacts of not taking action?

[NW Admin]

They sound like good plans, but I think one of the big things that needs to happen is stopping the use of diesel fueled mass transit. Just as we are working towards alternative fueled passenger vehicles, I think the use of diesel vehicles should stop. They are terrible things. Just getting stuch behind one in traffic reminds you how toxic they are. Sometimes you just can't escape the exhaust they put out. Of course, that is a long way off so it is good that they are working on other temporary aids.

I wonder if it's possible to create some sort of giant air filters/purifiers? I know that might sound silly, but why not? We have them in our homes so why not create large purifiers near locations like the Ambassador bridge?

"How can we ensure that these items are being implemented in Michigan or in the Detroit area?"

That's a good question. I would look into that. There must be some sort of contact person that handles inquiries about that sort of thing. It should definitely help put the pressure on them to know people are watching and concerned.

Clearly the health impacts of not taking action are huge in the long run. Not only is it impacting the quality of the air you breathe in that area, but it also spreads throughout the entire atmoshpere, contributing to the world problems as a whole. I am sure it probably contributes to lung cancer, asthma, and things of that nature. In addition, what goes into the atmosphere often gets picked up by rain and deposited back onto the earth. That is in addition to any other run-off from the bridge itself (oil/antifreeze). Those chemicals end up in the water and soil in the area effecting wildlife and plant life.

[ringo]

The health implications of that air pollution are cancer, emphysema, asthma, and other health problems!