Air Pollution Action Days and Illinois EnviroFlash

Air quality affects how we live and breathe. Like the weather, it can change from day to day. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a color-coded system that classifies air quality from Good to Hazardous. Air Pollution Action Day Alerts are issued when air quality levels over a large area are expected to reach the category Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, or Orange on the AQI, for multiple days.

When Air Pollution Action Days occur, coalition members are asked to notify their employees about the potential health risks of pollution and take actions to reduce emissions. Area residents are alerted as well.

Illinois EnviroFlash is an online tool that sends Air Quality forecasts and Air Pollution Action Day alerts directly to a subscriber's email inbox. The program is a partnership between the Illinois EPA and U.S. EPA.