Mayor Brandon Johnson | Facebook / Brandon Johnson
Mayor Brandon Johnson | Facebook / Brandon Johnson
Amidst a decline in air quality marked as "very unhealthy" in certain parts of the city, Mayor Brandon Johnson is urging residents to take precautionary measures. Residents are advised to limit their time outdoors and avoid engaging in strenuous activities that could further exacerbate the health risks posed by the city's compromised air.
"The City of Chicago is carefully monitoring and taking precautions as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has categorized our Air Quality Index as 'unhealthy' due to Canadian wildfire smoke present in the Chicago region," Johnson said in a statement, according to NBC 5. "We recommend children, teens, seniors, people with heart or lung disease, and individuals who are pregnant avoid strenuous activities and limit their time outdoors."
Johnson's statement came just moments before AirNow.gov, which uses information from the EPA to track pollutants like wildfire smoke, lowered the city's air quality to "Very Unhealthy," which officially registers at level four on a scale of six.
With the Environmental Protection Agency concluding the Chicago area is now registering a PM2.5 of approximately 209, in addition to limiting time outside Johnson is also recommending that some Chicagoans consider wearing masks as a way of protecting themselves from the unhealthy conditions.
The World Air Quality Index, which ranks cities across the globe from worst air quality to best, currently ranks the city in the top spot. Officials also issued warnings of dangerous swim conditions, including waves of up to seven feet.
As part of his statement, Johnson added "we must take drastic action to mitigate these threats and ensure that every Chicagoan in every neighborhood has the resources and protection they need to thrive."
With the National Weather Service having recently declared at least two days as "Air quality action days" for all of northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana due to the poor air quality, the government agency added "those with respiratory issues should limit time outdoors."
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