Champaign County Air Quality at Very Unhealthy Levels
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 28, 2023
Contact
Julie Pryde, Administrator
(217) 531-5369 /
Tanya Giannotti, Public Relations
(217) 531-2925 /
Champaign County Air Quality at Very Unhealthy Levels
Air quality across the Midwest is affected by smoke from wildfires in Canada filtering south.
CHAMPAIGN, IL - Air quality conditions are expected to be in the “Very Unhealthy” and “Unhealthy” categories for Champaign County through Wednesday, June 28. Smoke from Canadian wildfires has swept across the Midwest, prompting air quality alerts from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), wildfire smoke poses a significant threat due to its inclusion of miniscule particulate matter known as PM2.5, which represents the smallest form of pollutants. When breathed in, these particles can penetrate deep into lung tissue and enter the bloodstream, leading to potential health risks.
Champaign County’s Air Quality Index (AQI) is currently at 231, meaning all individuals should take precautions and the risk of health effects is increased for everyone. Champaign County residents are advised to:
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
- Keep outdoor activities short.
- Consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them.
People with heart or lung disease, older adults, teenagers, and children are more susceptible to adverse health effects and should avoid outdoor physical activity.
More information regarding air quality and current AQI levels can be found at: https://www.airnow.gov/
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