Air pollution threatens the health of 10.2 million people across 83 districts in Michigan. The average PM2.5 level is 9.4 µg/m³—1.9× higher than the WHO guideline.
Brought to you by Amrit Sharma
Michigan faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 10.2 million across 83 districts at risk.
The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 9.4µg/m³. That's 1.9 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.
This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 156 cigarettes in a year.
If Michigan met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.43 years longer.
That's 4.4M years of life stolen from 10.2 million people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.
Lives cut short. Breathing kills.
The top 10 most polluted districts in Michigan. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.
Distribution of population across different PM2.5 pollution levels. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³—only populations below this threshold are breathing safe air.
Complete air quality data for every district in Michigan, sorted by population.
| District | Population | PM2.5 µg/m³ | Years Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne | 1.8M | 10.6 | 0.5 years |
| Oakland | 1.4M | 10.3 | 0.5 years |
| Macomb | 849K | 10.0 | 0.5 years |
| Kent | 724K | 9.7 | 0.5 years |
| Washtenaw | 414K | 9.3 | 0.4 years |
| Genesee | 405K | 8.9 | 0.4 years |
| Ingham | 316K | 9.1 | 0.4 years |
| Ottawa | 300K | 9.3 | 0.4 years |
| Kalamazoo | 270K | 9.3 | 0.4 years |
| Saginaw | 198K | 8.6 | 0.4 years |
| Livingston | 181K | 9.3 | 0.4 years |
| Muskegon | 176K | 8.8 | 0.4 years |
| Jackson | 160K | 8.7 | 0.4 years |
| Berrien | 156K | 8.7 | 0.4 years |
| Monroe | 145K | 8.9 | 0.4 years |
| Saint Clair | 144K | 8.8 | 0.4 years |
| Calhoun | 135K | 8.9 | 0.4 years |
| Allegan | 113K | 9.0 | 0.4 years |
| Eaton | 103K | 8.9 | 0.4 years |
| Grand Traverse | 102K | 8.1 | 0.3 years |
| Bay | 100K | 8.7 | 0.4 years |
| Lenawee | 94K | 8.7 | 0.4 years |
| Midland | 85K | 8.3 | 0.3 years |
| Lapeer | 79K | 8.2 | 0.3 years |
| Van Buren | 72K | 8.7 | 0.4 years |
| Clinton | 72K | 8.6 | 0.4 years |
| Isabella | 67K | 8.1 | 0.3 years |
| Marquette | 67K | 7.7 | 0.3 years |
| Montcalm | 63K | 8.3 | 0.3 years |
| Ionia | 61K | 8.5 | 0.3 years |
| Shiawassee | 60K | 8.4 | 0.3 years |
| Saint Joseph | 60K | 8.8 | 0.4 years |
| Barry | 55K | 8.9 | 0.4 years |
| Tuscola | 48K | 7.8 | 0.3 years |
| Cass | 47K | 8.7 | 0.4 years |
| Newaygo | 47K | 8.4 | 0.3 years |
| Branch | 44K | 8.6 | 0.4 years |
| Hillsdale | 43K | 8.5 | 0.3 years |
| Mecosta | 42K | 8.2 | 0.3 years |
| Gratiot | 41K | 8.1 | 0.3 years |
| Sanilac | 36K | 8.0 | 0.3 years |
| Delta | 36K | 8.0 | 0.3 years |
| Emmet | 35K | 7.8 | 0.3 years |
| Wexford | 35K | 8.2 | 0.3 years |
| Chippewa | 34K | 7.8 | 0.3 years |
| Huron | 29K | 7.8 | 0.3 years |
| Clare | 29K | 8.1 | 0.3 years |
| Alpena | 29K | 8.0 | 0.3 years |
| Houghton | 28K | 6.3 | 0.1 years |
| Mason | 28K | 8.5 | 0.3 years |
| Dickinson | 27K | 8.7 | 0.4 years |
| Otsego | 25K | 7.8 | 0.3 years |
| Charlevoix | 25K | 8.0 | 0.3 years |
| Manistee | 25K | 8.3 | 0.3 years |
| Oceana | 24K | 8.1 | 0.3 years |
| Cheboygan | 24K | 8.0 | 0.3 years |
| Roscommon | 23K | 8.2 | 0.3 years |
| Gladwin | 23K | 8.0 | 0.3 years |
| Iosco | 23K | 8.1 | 0.3 years |
| Osceola | 22K | 8.1 | 0.3 years |
| Antrim | 22K | 7.9 | 0.3 years |
| Menominee | 21K | 8.5 | 0.3 years |
| Ogemaw | 20K | 7.9 | 0.3 years |
| Leelanau | 19K | 7.9 | 0.3 years |
| Benzie | 16K | 7.8 | 0.3 years |
| Kalkaska | 16K | 7.9 | 0.3 years |
| Gogebic | 14K | 6.8 | 0.2 years |
| Arenac | 14K | 8.1 | 0.3 years |
| Missaukee | 13K | 8.1 | 0.3 years |
| Crawford | 13K | 7.9 | 0.3 years |
| Presque Isle | 12K | 7.8 | 0.3 years |
| Iron | 11K | 8.3 | 0.3 years |
| Lake | 11K | 8.1 | 0.3 years |
| Mackinac | 9K | 8.2 | 0.3 years |
| Alcona | 9K | 7.8 | 0.3 years |
| Montmorency | 9K | 7.7 | 0.3 years |
| Baraga | 8K | 6.8 | 0.2 years |
| Alger | 8K | 7.0 | 0.2 years |
| Schoolcraft | 8K | 7.7 | 0.3 years |
| Oscoda | 7K | 7.9 | 0.3 years |
| Ontonagon | 5K | 6.6 | 0.2 years |
| Luce | 5K | 7.3 | 0.2 years |
| Keweenaw | 2K | 6.0 | 0.1 years |
Showing 83 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.