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Environmental Services Program

Air Quality

 

Air can be an easy thing for people to take for granted. Sometimes we forget it’s the only thing we touch externally and take internally for every minute of our lives after birth.  The Air Quality Program is dedicated to protecting the quality of both ambient and indoor air on the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Reservation and the surrounding airshed. The goal is to safeguard the health and well-being of resident tribal and non-tribal communities, as well as the ecological balance of the region.

Ambient Air Quality

One of the key initiatives of the Air Quality Program is monitoring atmospheric mercury levels through forest leaf litter collection. Mercury from airborne sources bonds to leaves throughout the growing season. Local deciduous leaves are collected in the fall and analyzed for mercury content. The collected data is compared with samples from other locations in the National Atmospheric Deposition Program to better understand regional environmental mercury levels.

Below: LTBB’s leaf litter collection site for monitoring atmospheric mercury.

In 2014 the Air Program developed an emissions inventory. The inventory logs and describes the most significant sources of air pollution on the LTBB Reservation and the area within 25 miles of the Reservation boundary. Future updates of the inventory will be useful in determining how air quality might change over time. This type of documentation is also useful in determining if the program needs to focus efforts on any certain source or pollutant.

Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians 2014-2015 Airshed

Expanding Air Quality Monitoring Efforts

LTBB is currently securing resources to expand its ambient air quality monitoring capabilities. Through the ITEP/TAMS Center loan program, LTBB is obtaining Purple Air Zen Sensors to test for particulate matter (PM2.5), temperature, humidity, pressure, and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the LTBB airshed. These efforts will enhance the tribe’s ability to assess air quality conditions in real-time and provide valuable data for future air quality initiatives.

Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is vital because most people spend most of their time indoors. In northern Michigan IAQ is usually lower quality than our outdoor air. The old advice about getting out for some fresh air holds a lot of truth. It’s typical for the concentration of indoor air pollutants to be 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor concentrations. Homes can also trap moisture and provide a place for mold to grow. Excessive mold growth can irritate the respiratory system and cause allergic reactions. To help tribal citizens deal with these issues, we offer indoor IAQ assessments and solutions for cleanup.

 

To assist tribal citizens, the program also offers IAQ assessments and recommendations for remediation, ensuring healthier indoor environments for the community. The IAQ assessment is provided upon request to tribal members at no cost. The assessment will test for the following pollutants:

  • Particulate Matter (PM2.5 & PM10)
  • Carbon Monoxide (CO)
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC)
  • Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
  • Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
  • Ozone (O3)
  • Relative Humidity
  • Temperature

Education and Outreach

The Air Quality Program is committed to raising awareness about air quality issues and their impact on health and the environment. The program provides educational and informational materials, and community presentations to inform tribal members about air quality monitoring, pollution reduction strategies, and indoor air quality improvements. Outreach efforts include participation in ESP hosted events, the annual community meeting, the annual LTBB health fairs, and fosters engagement with tribal community members and local organizations to promote sustainable air quality practices.

Air Quality Awareness Week 2025:

In celebration of Air Quality Awareness Week 2025 (May 5–9), the LTBB Environmental Services Program encourages community members to take part in a self-guided activity focused on improving the air inside our homes. The LTBB Indoor Air Quality Home Checklist is a simple and practical tool designed to help you identify common sources of indoor air pollution and take small steps to create a healthier living environment.