🇺🇸🇨🇦IL
Air Quality in Chicago
Chicago experiences varying air quality influenced by industry, traffic, and Lake Michigan weather patterns. The city monitors through IEPA.
📊 AQI Monitoring
Illinois EPA maintains monitoring stations across Chicagoland, reporting to EPA AQI standards.
Standard: EPA AQI & Canadian AQHI (AQI/AQHI)
⚠️ Key Pollutants
- Industrial emissions
- Traffic pollution
- Ozone in summer
- Lake-effect particulates
Local Regulations
EPA Region 5 oversight. State implementation plans for ozone and PM2.5. Industrial permitting requirements.
Outdoor Air in Chicago Is Hard to Change. Indoor Air Isn't.
The EPA says indoor air can be 2-5x more polluted than outside. For Chicago residents, the most effective long-term solution is a quality indoor air purifier — removing 90%+ of PM2.5, allergens, and pollutants where you spend most of your time.
Indoor Air Quality Tips for Chicago
- ✓Monitor AirNow for alerts
- ✓Lake breeze can improve or worsen conditions
- ✓HEPA filters help with industrial pollutants
Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
DIY HEPA & MERV air purifiers from $149. Effective, affordable solutions for Chicago residents.
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