Brian Barton
Chicago has a long history of air pollution, dating back to the city's industrialization in the 19th century. In 2023, the city was ranked as the second most polluted major city in the US, and while it improved to 7th in 2024, it is still facing challenges in addressing air pollution. The city has implemented various measures to tackle this issue, including the establishment of the Department of Air Pollution Control in 1959 and subsequent regulations such as the federal Clean Air Act of 1970. More recently, the Chicago Department of Public Health has analyzed data to identify neighborhoods disproportionately affected by air pollution, aiming to prioritize mitigation efforts in those areas. Transport emissions, temperature inversions, and the city's industrial past have all contributed to Chicago's air pollution, with particle pollution and ozone levels being significant concerns.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Air Quality Index (AQI) in 2019 | 52 ("moderate") |
| Air Quality Index (AQI) in 2025 | 39 |
| 2023 ranking among major US cities | 2nd |
| 2024 ranking among major US cities | 7th |
| 2024 ranking among all US cities | 18th |
| Average annual concentration of small particulate matter in the air in 2024 | 8.4 micrograms per cubic meter |
| Average annual concentration of small particulate matter in the air in 2023 | 13 micrograms per cubic meter |
| Air pollution disproportionately affects | Neighborhoods on the South and West Sides |
| Initiatives | Healthy Chicago 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
Chicago's air pollution history
Chicago has a long history of unhealthy air pollution, dating back to the city's industrialization in the late nineteenth century. During this period, Chicago relied on dirty coal from southern Illinois to heat buildings, run motor engines, and power steel mills. The soot produced by burning dirty coal covered the city in a dense toxic cloud, leading to increased instances of pneumonia, asthma, and heart and lung diseases.
As early as 1881, regulations were implemented to combat the city's air pollution problem, making Chicago one of the first cities to address this issue. However, it wasn't until after World War II, when coal usage began to decline, that significant reductions in pollution were achieved. In 1959, the city established the Department of Air Pollution Control to investigate and regulate emission sources.
Subsequent regulations, such as the federal Clean Air Act of 1970 and more recent city and state legislation, have further contributed to the decline in city-wide emissions. Despite these efforts, Chicago's air quality remains a concern, with the city being ranked as the second-most polluted major city in the US in 2023 and the seventh in 2024.
Transport emissions from the city's extensive highway network and O'Hare International Airport, one of the busiest in the world, have become a primary source of pollution. Temperature inversions during the summer months, caused by warm air trapping cooler air from Lake Michigan, further exacerbate the issue by preventing the dispersal of pollutants.
In recent years, particle pollution has been on the rise, with levels nearly doubling between 2017 and 2019. This has been attributed to the increasing suburbanization of the city and its growing dependence on motor vehicles. While Chicago's air pollution levels are lower than in previous decades, the current worsening trend underscores the need for continued efforts to improve air quality and protect public health.
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Current air quality initiatives
Chicago has a long history of air pollution, dating back to the city's industrialization in the late nineteenth century. While the city implemented regulations as early as 1881, it was not until coal usage declined after World War II that significant pollution reductions were achieved. Today, Chicago continues to face air quality challenges, with transport emissions, industrial activities, and temperature inversions contributing to the issue.
The City of Chicago is actively working to address air pollution and improve air quality for its residents. Here are some of the current initiatives:
- The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) analyzes community-level data on air quality, health, and social factors to identify neighborhoods that should be prioritized for air pollution mitigation and reduction efforts. This data-driven approach aims to protect public health and promote equity among Chicago's communities.
- The Air Quality and Health Report: This report highlights the disproportionate burden of air pollution on neighborhoods on the South and West Sides, which are affected by major highways and high concentrations of industry. The report serves as a foundation for the city's air quality agenda and helps inform policies and initiatives to reduce pollution in these areas.
- Encouraging Citizen Engagement: The city encourages citizens to actively participate in air quality monitoring. Initiatives like the loan program for portable particulate matter sensors from the U.S. EPA Region 5 office enable individuals, community groups, schools, and organizations to collect data and contribute to the understanding of air quality in their local areas.
- Real-time Air Quality Monitoring: Chicago offers various tools and plugins, such as the Chicago Air Quality plugin for Chrome and Firefox, that provide residents with real-time air pollution levels. This information helps residents make informed decisions about their health and well-being, especially for those sensitive to air quality changes.
- Healthy Chicago 2025: This initiative, led by local environmental justice organizations, aims to improve health and racial equity in Chicago by addressing air quality issues. By setting goals and implementing strategies, the city hopes to create a healthier environment for all its residents, regardless of race or social factors.
While Chicago has made strides in improving air quality, there is still work to be done. These initiatives demonstrate the city's commitment to tackling air pollution and creating a healthier and more sustainable future for its residents.
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The impact of transport emissions
Chicago has a long history of unhealthy air pollution, dating back to the city's industrialization in the late nineteenth century. At that time, the city relied on dirty coal to heat buildings, run motor engines, and power steel mills. The soot produced by burning coal covered Chicago in a toxic cloud, leading to increased health issues such as pneumonia, asthma, and heart and lung diseases.
Today, transport emissions from planes, trains, boats, automobiles, and locomotives have become the city's largest emission source, even surpassing highly regulated coal. The Chicago area has the most federal highways and is the second-most visited city in the country, with one of the busiest airports in the world, O'Hare International Airport. This high level of transportation activity contributes significantly to the city's air pollution.
In recent years, transport emissions have been on the rise in Chicago. Gas-powered transport emits pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and reactive organic substances, which are precursors to ozone, another pollutant of concern. The increase in particle pollution, specifically fine particulate matter (PM2.5), is also a significant issue. PM2.5 can have damaging effects on people's health, and Chicago has seen an increase in PM2.5 levels in recent years, with 2019 being particularly high.
To address these issues, Chicago has taken several measures. The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and service boards such as CTA, Metra, and Pace, are working to improve sustainability. For example, Pace aims to have a zero-emissions bus fleet by 2040, with Waukegan's bus fleet being fully electric by 2026. The CTA has also committed to an all-electric bus fleet by 2040. These efforts are expected to significantly reduce emissions, with bus emissions already being 33% lower per passenger mile than cars, and passenger trains being 76% lower. Additionally, the city has implemented initiatives like Healthy Chicago 2025 and projects like ON TO 2050, which aim to improve air quality and reduce overall carbon emissions by 80% from 1990 levels by 2050.
While Chicago has made progress in reducing transport emissions and improving air quality, there is still work to be done. The city continues to face challenges from its high transportation demand and the impact of external factors, such as wildfires, which can affect air quality.
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Air pollution's effect on public health
Chicago has a long history of unhealthy air pollution, dating back to the city's industrialization in the late nineteenth century. The burning of dirty coal to heat buildings, run motor engines, and power steel mills left the city shrouded in a toxic cloud of soot, with severe consequences for public health.
The city's air pollution problem has persisted into the present day, with Chicago ranked as the second-most polluted major US city in 2023, before dropping to seventh place in 2024. The city's air quality index (AQI) in 2019 averaged at a "moderate" level of 52, which the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines as potentially unhealthy for children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing cardiovascular or respiratory health conditions. The main pollutants of concern are fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone, which is a harmful gas and a key component of smog.
The health impacts of air pollution in Chicago have been significant. The burning of dirty coal in the nineteenth century led to increased instances of pneumonia, asthma, and heart and lung diseases. More recently, the city's poor air quality has been linked to premature deaths, hospitalisations, asthma attacks, and missed school days. The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) has identified that neighbourhoods on the South and West Sides, characterised by major highways and industrial activity, are disproportionately burdened by air pollution and its associated health risks.
Transport emissions from planes, trains, automobiles, and boats have now overtaken coal as the city's largest emission source. Diesel transport, passenger vehicles, industry, and winter wood-burning are significant contributors to PM2.5 emissions. The city's location on the shore of Lake Michigan also makes it prone to temperature inversions, where cool surface-level air becomes trapped by a warmer air layer, preventing the normal dispersion of pollutants. This phenomenon is exacerbated by Chicago's status as the second-most visited city in the country, with one of the busiest airports in the world, O'Hare International Airport.
The effects of air pollution on public health are complex and far-reaching. The high levels of PM2.5 and ozone in Chicago's atmosphere can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular issues, particularly in vulnerable populations. The city's air pollution problem demands a multifaceted approach, involving legislation, emissions reduction strategies, and continued monitoring to protect the health and well-being of its residents.
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The role of climate change
Chicago has a long history of air pollution, dating back to the city's industrialization in the late nineteenth century. The burning of dirty coal from southern Illinois to heat buildings, run motor engines, and power steel mills left the city shrouded in a toxic cloud, leading to increased health issues for its residents. While regulations were put in place as early as 1881, and the Department of Air Pollution Control was established in 1959, Chicago's air pollution levels have continued to be a cause for concern.
In recent years, transport emissions from planes, trains, boats, automobiles, and locomotives have become the city's largest emission source, surpassing highly regulated coal. The suburbanization of the city and its dependence on motor vehicles have contributed to rising transport emissions, including particle pollution (PM2.5), nitrogen oxides, and reactive organic substances, which contribute to the formation of ozone.
Climate change plays a significant role in Chicago's air pollution. Warmer temperatures caused by climate change increase the likelihood of ozone formation and make it more challenging to reduce ozone levels. The record-breaking global heat in recent years has led to increased ozone levels in most cities, including Chicago. Additionally, climate change-induced wildfires, such as those in the Canadian province of Quebec in 2023, have had a significant impact on Chicago's air quality. The smoke and pollutants from these fires were carried by winds across borders, affecting multiple cities in the Midwest, including Chicago.
The social and health impacts of air pollution in Chicago are significant. Air pollution disproportionately affects neighbourhoods on the South and West Sides, with higher concentrations of industry and major highways running through them. These areas have experienced higher incidences of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and heart disease. The elderly, children, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions are also more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution.
To address these issues, the City of Chicago has taken several measures. The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) has analyzed community-level data on air quality, health, and social factors to identify neighbourhoods that should be prioritized for air pollution mitigation efforts. The city has also implemented regulations and legislation to mitigate emissions, including the federal Clean Air Act of 1970 and more recent city and state legislation. However, despite these efforts, Chicago still faces challenges in improving its air quality, and the impact of climate change-related factors, such as increasing temperatures and wildfires, continues to be a significant concern.
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Frequently asked questions
Chicago was ranked the 7th most polluted major US city in 2024, down from 2nd place in 2023. The city has a long history of unhealthy air pollution dating back to its industrialization in the 19th century.
Transport emissions from planes, trains, boats, automobiles, and locomotives are the city's largest emission source. Temperature inversions during the summer months can also exacerbate air pollution levels.
Air pollution can cause and exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular health issues. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can penetrate every cell in our bodies, from the skin to the lungs and even the brain.
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is analyzing community-level data to identify neighborhoods that should be prioritized for initiatives to reduce air pollution and protect public health. The city has also established departments and implemented regulations to investigate and regulate emission sources.
Real-time air pollution levels for Chicago are available through various online tools and plugins, such as the Chrome store, Firefox store, and Microsoft application store. Additionally, residents can access air quality data through dedicated websites and mobile applications.
