More Than a Million Advised to Stay Inside in Three States

By Alia Shoaib

News Reporter

ShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

...

More than a million Americans are advised to limit their time outdoors due to unhealthy air quality levels.

“Unhealthy” levels of air quality are detected in parts of Indiana, Michigan and Illinois as of 6 a.m. ET on Monday, marked in red on the Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow map.

In areas with unhealthy air quality, residents are advised to limit prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities and take breaks when needed.

Why It Matters

High levels of particle pollution can cause a range of health problems, ranging from coughing and wheezing up to asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes. It is also linked to early death for people with heart or lung disease, according to AirNow.

The risks are highest for sensitive groups such as young children, elderly people, those with existing heart or lung conditions, and pregnant women.

What To Know

In Michigan, parts of Cass County and St Joseph County are experiencing unhealthy air, according to the AirNow map.

In Indiana, most of Elkhart County and small parts of Kosciusko and St. Joseph Counties are among the areas experiencing unhealthy air.

In Illinois, part of Kane County, DuPage County and Cook County, spanning Elgin, are affected.

Other areas are marked as having air quality levels for “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” who are advised to make outdoor activities shorter and less intense and to keep an eye on symptoms.

These areas, marked on the AirNow map in orange, include wider areas in Indiana - such as Marion County - Illinois, Michigan, and small areas in Wisconsin and California.

AirNow provides real-time air quality updates, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) tracking particle pollution and other harmful pollutants in the air.

Areas marked as having unhealthy air quality levels have an AQI between 151-200.

What People Are Saying

AirNow, the official EPA reporting site, says on its website: “Even if you are healthy, you may experience temporary symptoms from exposure to elevated levels of particles. Symptoms may include: irritation of the eyes, nose and throat; coughing; phlegm; chest tightness; and shortness of breath. At greatest risk from particle pollution are people with heart or lung disease, older adults (possibly because they may have undiagnosed heart or lung disease), and children.”

What Happens Next

Residents in affected areas are advised to keep a close eye on air quality maps, which are subject to change rapidly. Members of sensitive groups should exercise particular caution when planning outdoor activities for the day.

Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI Guidelines

Add Newsweek as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.

Recommended For You

NewsMaps Show Snow Risk for Each State Over Thanksgiving 2025 Holidays3 min read

NewsMost American Monarchists Don’t Want King Trump6 min read

NewsMiss Jamaica’s Sister Issues Health Update After Shocking Stage Fall2 min read

NewsMap Shows States Where COVID Is Rising Before Thanksgiving3 min read

NewsThanksgiving Week Weather Map Shows Forecast for Each State3 min read

NewsHistoric 1902 Skyscraper Is About to Change Forever—Pictures Show How3 min read

Related Podcasts

Opinion

Opinion‘AI Plus’ Is China’s Master Plan to Build an AI-Native Society by 2035 | Opinion5 min read

OpinionConventional Wisdom: The Trump and Mamdani Edition2 min read

OpinionConventional Wisdom: Price of Culture Edition3 min read

OpinionRemembering My Father Senator Robert F. Kennedy | Opinion4 min read Latinos Catch the Fish. Why Aren’t They at the Decision-Making Table? | Opinion