The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director John Kim is encouraging Illinois residents to use caution when outdoors on Friday as air quality conditions are expected to be in the ‘Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups’ category according to the national Air Quality Index.
As a result, the Illinois EPA has issued an air quality forecast of ‘Orange’ or ‘Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups’ for Friday.
Kim says warm, dry, and sunny conditions, along with increasing drought conditions are contributing to increased ground-level ozone. Ground-level ozone is formed when emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds from vehicles, power plants, and other industrial sources, react in the presence of sunlight.
The conditions pose a potential health hazard to sensitive populations, including individuals with respiratory or pulmonary disorders, as well as active children and adults. Sensitive individuals should take special precautions and follow their physician-prescribed regimen. All residents should keep cool and limit physical activity when air quality is low. Possible symptoms related to sensitive groups impacted by low air quality include coughing or shortness of breath.
Businesses and residents are also encouraged to take steps to reduce contributions to air pollution including:
- Taking public transit, ridesharing, walking, or biking.
- Consolidating errands if driving.
- Reducing energy demands.
- Avoiding use of gasoline-powered equipment when air quality is elevated.
U.S. EPA has also published an Air Quality Guide for Ozone at: https://www.airnow.gov/sites/default/files/2023-03/air-quality-guide-for-ozone_0.pdf
