A deep dive into Canadian wildfires’ impact on air quality in Illinois
View of Champaign when smoke from Canadian wildfires caused poor air quality in June 2023 Reginald Hardwick /Illinois Public Media
In north and central Illinois, the air quality reached unhealthy levels recently, according to the National Weather Service. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency declared an Air Pollution Action Day for July 19 and July 20 covering most of the state, except for the Metro East.
The smoke came from Canadian wildfires and it’s estimated there are more than 900 of them burning right now, according to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System. Illinois dealt with wildfire smoke last year, as well as in 2023. The smoke could come back later this summer, and, for that matter, in the years ahead.
A meteorologist and environmental science experts discuss what’s bringing the smoke down here, how it affects our air, and what the future holds for it.
GUESTS
Serap Erdal
Associate Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago
Andrew Pritchard
WILL meteorologist, and storm chaser and photographer
Craig Clements
Professor and Chair, Meteorology and Climate Science Department, San Jose State University in California
Director of the Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center
