PODCAST:
May 1, 2026 ~ Chris Renwick and Lloyd Jackson spoke with Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib about Detroit’s air pollution. Tlaib detailed the “We Have a Right to Breathe” campaign and issues with current environmental policy and enforcement.
DETROIT ~ A recent report from the American Lung Association ranked Detroit among the worst cities in terms of air pollution.
The city was ranked 11th worst for 24-hour particle pollution out of 224 metropolitan areas, with Wayne County earning a grade of “F” in the report. U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), whose district includes a part of the city, has long advocated for holding air polluters accountable, particularly in Black and brown neighborhoods, through her “We Have a Right to Breathe” campaign.
“Growing up in Southwest Detroit, we really thought that smelling rotten eggs after we played outside was normal, that everybody that had asthma,” Tlaib told WJR. “It was almost normalized.”
Air pollution exposure can cause shortness of breath, asthma attacks, chronic cardiovascular problems, and respiratory issues, according to the American Lung Association.
