News Releases - 1996

Illinois EPA Reports Air Quality Improvements

Springfield -- Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director Mary A. Gade announced today that air quality in Illinois was healthy on 98 percent of the days in 1995, according to the Agency‘s latest summary of air quality statistics, the 1995 Annual Air Quality Report, issued this week.

The Illinois EPA maintains more than 200 sites statewide that monitor levels of six pollutants: ozone, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and lead. The average levels of those pollutants were either reduced from 1994 or remained the same, except ozone, which was measured at slightly higher levels in 1995 because of the record-breaking summer heat wave.

According to the report, there were 16 occurrences or eight days of unhealthy air quality statewide in 1995. Fifteen of those occurrences (eight in the Chicago area, seven in the Metro East St. Louis area) were due to ozone, a respiratory irritant found in smog. The 1995 summer heat wave created weather conditions that were much more likely to cause ozone than in years past by about 50 percent in the Chicago area and 35 percent in the Metro-East area. The other occurrences were due to sulfur dioxide, a respiratory irritant, in Pekin, and particulate matter, also a respiratory irritant, in Randolph County.

‘We are encouraged by the achievements we have made in improving air quality, but major challenges still exist,‘ Gade said. ‘The Agency is continually striving to reduce air pollution through Clean Air Act programs, pollution prevention measures and permitting and inspection efforts with industry.

‘However, everyone is responsible for pollution, not just industry. More than half of the emissions that cause smog come from cars and other gasoline-powered engines, and common household products,‘ Gade added. ‘That‘s why it‘s important that everyone makes an effort to help maintain good air quality and to help improve problem areas.‘

Two Illinois areas are designated by U.S. EPA as nonattainment for the ozone standard -- the Chicago metropolitan area and the Metro East St. Louis area. More reductions in pollution-causing emissions are necessary before those areas can achieve attainment status. In addition to cleaner cars, cleaner fuels and restrictions on industry, Gade says there are simple actions anyone can take to help reduce their contributions to air pollution, especially on days when pollution is most likely to occur -- hot, sunny days with no rain and no wind:

• Try to limit driving by carpooling, taking public transportation or combining several short trips into one.
• Use water-based paints and varnishes instead of oil-based.
• Limit the use of household products that cause fumes.
• Conserve energy in your home to help reduce needs from power plants.