Alaska Tribal Air Toolkit
Clean Air, Healthy Villages Video Series
The videos and accompanying fact sheets below focus on some of the major air quality issues facing Alaska Native Villages and explore solutions to help Tribal communities address those challenges.
Introduction
This video summarizes five of the major air quality challenges for rural Alaska Native Villages: Diesel emissions, indoor air quality, road dust, solid waste burning, and wood smoke.
Diesel emissions
Diesel is used in rural Alaska to produce electricity and fuel boats, vehicles and planes. This video explains how to minimize exposure to diesel exhaust and maximize the efficiency of diesel engines.
Additional information about diesel emissions
Indoor air quality
In many Alaskan communities, the cold climate means people spend a lot of time indoors in air tight homes and buildings where indoor air pollution and humidity can rise to unhealthy levels. This video highlights sources of indoor air pollution and how to address them.
Additional information about indoor air
Road dust
In rural Alaska, ATVs and other vehicles driving on dirt roads contribute to airborne dust that can aggravate respiratory problems, settle on subsistence foods, and contribute to poor indoor air quality. This video explains how to limit the impacts of road dust and protect community health.
Additional information about road dust
- Fact sheet: Road dust (pdf)
- Rural Alaska Dust Toolkit (developed collaboratively with Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation)
Solid waste burning
Burning garbage is a common practice in many rural Alaskan communities. However, air pollution from burning waste is hazardous to human health, especially for elders and children. This video explores solutions to reduce impacts of solid waste burning.
Additional information about solid waste burning
Wood smoke
Many people in rural Alaska use wood stoves to heat their homes and bath houses. This video summarizes the health impacts from wood smoke and provides step-by-step instructions how to burn "small, dry, and hot" to save fuel and keep the air clean.