Air Pollution Trends in Illinois

This policy spotlight explains how Illinois’ air pollution is monitored, describes trends in air pollution levels, and discusses the potential health consequences. In Illinois, the highest pollution levels are in the Chicago area, though these levels have notably decreased over the past two decades. If recent progress continues, Illinois can expect significant increases in life expectancy and quality of life. However, events such as the 2023 Canadian wildfires underscore that pollution levels in Illinois could be severely disrupted by climate change.