New Report: Chicago Metro Area Air Quality One of the Worst in Nation

The Chicago metro area was named one of the worst in the nation for ozone and particle pollution, according to the American Lung Association’s 2024 “State of the Air” report, which was released today. Despite long-term progress toward healthy air, the greater Chicago area remains one of the most polluted in the nation.

The Lung Association’s 25th annual “State of the Air” report grades exposure to unhealthy levels of ground-level ozone air pollution, annual particle pollution and short-term spikes in particle pollution over a three-year period. This year’s report includes air quality data from 2020-2022 and is updated to reflect the new annual particle pollution standard that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized in February.

“In the 25 years that the American Lung Association has been doing our ‘State of the Air’ report, we have seen incredible improvement in our nation’s air quality. Unfortunately, more than 131 million people still live in places with unhealthy levels of air pollution, and Chicago is listed as one of the worst places for ozone and particle pollution, which disproportionately impacts low-income communities and communities of color,” said Kristina Hamilton, Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association. “Climate change is making air pollution more likely to form and more difficult to clean up, so there are actions we can and must take to improve air quality, including investing in zero emission vehicle infrastructure, adopting the Advance Clean Trucks rule, and calling on the U.S. EPA to set long-overdue stronger national limits on ozone pollution.”

Ground-level Ozone Pollution in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI metro area:

The “State of the Air” report looked at levels of ozone “smog,” the air pollutant affecting the largest number of people in the United States. The Chicago metro area ranked 17th worst in the nation for ozone pollution. The ranking was based on the area’s worst county’s average number of unhealthy days—15.3 days per year, an F grade, in Cook County, Illinois. This was the same as the area's ranking in last year's report of 17th worst, with 15.5 days per year, an F grade. Several collar counties also earned an F grade in this year’s report.

Particle Pollution in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI metro area:

The report also tracked short-term spikes in particle pollution, which can be extremely dangerous and even deadly. The greater Chicago area ranked 73rd worst in the nation for short-term particle pollution. The ranking was based on the area’s worst county’s average number of unhealthy days—1.3 days per year, a C grade, in Cook County, Illinois. This was worse than the area's ranking in last year's report of 77th worst, with 1.3 days per year, a C grade. 

For the year-round average level of particle pollution, the area’s worst county, Cook County, Illinois, received a failing grade for pollution levels above the federal standard that was recently updated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The Chicago metro area ranked 22nd worst in the nation. This was worse than the area's ranking in last year's report of 23rd worst in the nation. DuPage, Kane, and Will Counties also received failing grades.

The “State of the Air” report found that nationally, more than 131 million people live in an area that received a failing grade for at least one measure of air pollution, and 43.9 million people live in areas with failing grades for all three measures. In the three years covered by this report, individuals in the U.S. experienced the highest number of days when particle pollution reached “very unhealthy” and “hazardous” levels in the history of reporting the “State of the Air.” Communities of color are disproportionately exposed to unhealthy air and are also more likely to be living with one or more chronic conditions that make them more vulnerable to air pollution, including asthma, diabetes, and heart disease. The report found that a person of color in the U.S. is more than twice as likely as a white individual to live in a community with a failing grade on all three pollution measures.

Both ozone and particle pollution can cause premature death and other serious health effects such as asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, preterm births, and impaired cognitive functioning later in life. Particle pollution can also cause lung cancer.

The American Lung Association and partners are urging the Illinois General Assembly to advance strong policies to curb air pollution from transportation sources, including adopting clean vehicle standards and expanding electric vehicle charging capabilities and infrastructure throughout the state.

The EPA recently finalized new air pollution rules that will help clean up particle pollution and address climate change. Now, the Lung Association is urging the EPA to set long overdue stronger national limits on ozone pollution. Stronger limits would help people protect themselves and drive cleanup of polluting sources across the country. See the full report results and sign the petition at Lung.org/SOTA.

Kristina Hamilton is available for interviews about the SOTA report. Please contact Janye Killelea at [email protected] or call (312) 940-7624 with requests.

Get involved and help the mission of American Lung Association. The Fight For Air Climb Chicago will be held at Soldier Field on Sunday May 19. Learn more at FightForAirClimb.org/Chicago.