St. Louis Air Quality Hits 142 as Wildfire Smoke Pushes Metro East to No. 7
Updated
Updated · stlpr.org · Jul 20
St. Louis Air Quality Hits 142 as Wildfire Smoke Pushes Metro East to No. 7
3 articles · Updated · stlpr.org · Jul 20
Summary
St. Louis reached an air quality index of 142 by 9 a.m. Monday, a level deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups including children, older adults and people with certain health conditions.
Metro East air also deteriorated, ranking as the seventh-worst AQI in the U.S. by mid-morning, while Illinois issued an air quality alert for multiple counties across the Mississippi River.
Wildfire smoke drove the pollution, with fine particles from large fires in Canada and parts of the U.S. spreading into the region after heavy smoke blanketed the Northeast in recent days.
Illinois EPA urged active children and adults, along with people with asthma and similar diseases, to limit outdoor activity on Monday.