India, July 16 -- Much of the Chicago metropolitan area remains under an Air Quality Alert as unhealthy ozone levels and wildfire smoke from Canada continue to affect the region. The National Weather Service (NWS) said the alert will stay in effect through Thursday night, while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported unhealthy air quality across parts of Chicago and its northern suburbs.

Why is Chicago Air Quality So Bad Today?

The main reason for the poor air quality is smoke drifting south from ongoing Canadian wildfires, which has combined with elevated ozone pollution, heat, and humidity. This mixture increases the concentration of fine particulate matter in the air, making breathing conditions worse for sensitive groups ...