News Releases - 1997

Illinois EPA Reports Air Quality Improvements

Springfield, Ill. -- The latest summary of air monitoring statistics from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that Illinois air quality continues to improve and that the number of days of unhealthy air quality in Illinois were reduced by 50 percent from 1995 to 1996.

The Illinois Annual Air Quality Report for 1996 documents eight occurrences of unhealthy air in Illinois last year as compared with 16 occurrences in 1995 and 11 in 1994. One unhealthy day last year was due to particulate matter pollution (airborne dust) while the other days were due to ozone (smog).

The Illinois EPA maintains more than 100 sites statewide that monitor levels of six pollutants with federal health-based standards (called criteria pollutants) as well as other pollutants and compounds.

Over the past decade, the trends are also favorable. Air monitoring data collected from 1987 through 1996 shows declining levels of all criteria pollutants:

• ozone levels are down 21 percent;
• particulate matter concentrations are down 37 percent,
• carbon monoxide levels are down 49 percent,
• sulfur dioxide concentrations are down 28 percent,
• nitrogen dioxide levels are down 10 percent and
• lead concentrations are down 58 percent.

"Although the overall trend shows improving air quality, air pollution -- especially ozone pollution -- still affects many Illinois citizens," said Illinois EPA Director Mary A. Gade. "We must be vigilant in maintaining those areas of good air quality while focusing even more efforts on reducing activities that cause smog.

"It's become clear that ozone is not just a local problem," Gade continued. "Wind can carry emissions to cause ozone in areas hundreds of miles away. Illinois is committed to do its part and also to work with regional and national programs to reduce ozone-producing emissions."

Two Illinois areas do not meet the minimum health-based standards for ozone -- the Chicago metropolitan area and the Metro East St. Louis area. More reductions in pollution-causing emissions are necessary before those areas improve in air quality.

Gade says that everyone can help improve air quality by taking simple actions:

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