Processed on 2024-03-04 13:05:45 PST.


Disclaimer: Data presented here come from a variety of sources and do not represent official EPA measurements. Please visit AirNow for official measurements.


Cumulative exposure to smoke is an important public health metric. This report summarizes the cumulative number of days air quality monitors in Illinois spent in each AQI category during the the month of April.

The tables below include only permanent monitors measuring PM2.5 and show cumulative exposure under existing NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards) and under the 2024 revised standards for PM2.5.

In the tables and plots below, ‘Old’ designates cumulative days calculated using the 2023 PM2.5 NAAQS while ‘New’ is calculated using the 2024 revised PM2.5 NAAQS. The impact of the NAAQS revision is quite clear.

April in Illinois

April 2014 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 245 64 0 0 0 0 32
New 162 147 0 0 0 0 32

April 2015 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 251 45 0 0 0 0 45
New 199 97 0 0 0 0 45

April 2016 – 26 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 233 65 0 0 0 0 43
New 147 151 0 0 0 0 43

April 2017 – 21 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 394 18 0 0 0 0 22
New 291 121 0 0 0 0 22

April 2018 – 40 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 505 60 0 0 0 0 55
New 385 180 0 0 0 0 55

April 2019 – 23 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 513 81 0 0 0 0 88
New 390 204 0 0 0 0 88

April 2020 – 43 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 501 77 0 0 0 0 135
New 365 213 0 0 0 0 135

April 2021 – 23 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 499 125 1 0 0 0 57
New 376 248 1 0 0 0 57

April 2022 – 24 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 635 43 0 0 0 0 35
New 504 174 0 0 0 0 35

April 2023 – 26 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 587 102 0 0 0 0 55
New 401 288 0 0 0 0 55