September 29, 2006

The Department of Environmental Quality is pleased to announce the rollout of “MIair,” a new air monitoring and information website. MIair provides Michigan residents with current monitoring data, next day forecasts, the Air Quality Index, automated notification options via e-mail, animated real-time maps, and much more information about Michigan’s air quality.

While pollution levels continue to decline across the state, it is important for residents to know when air quality may be unhealthy, particularly for sensitive population groups including children, asthmatics, and older adults. MIair provides information to help individuals make choices that clean the air and information on how to protect their health when less-than-desirable air quality is anticipated.

"MIair gives Michigan residents the tools they need to better understand our air quality, and the information they need to make healthy decisions,” said DEQ Director Steven E. Chester. “Michigan is proud to be a front runner in offering this new service that will help keep our families safe.”

MIair allows residents to adjust daily activities when air quality concerns are anticipated. DEQ meteorologists recently increased the size of the forecast area to a total of 75 Michigan counties with the potential to reach 98 percent of Michigan’s population.

The MIair pages focus on Michigan’s two most challenging pollutants, ozone and fine particulate, and tips on navigating the MIair pages can be found in the Links section.

For more information on air quality where you live, visit the DEQ “AIR” web page at www.michigan.gov/deqair. Select the MIair icon for air data.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

Protecting Michigan’s Environment, Ensuring Michigan’s Future”

Revised September 29, 2006 by Pat Watson