Illinois has dealt with a fair amount of air pollution this summer, primarily as a result of migrating smoke from Canadian wildfires. This has resulted in smoggy skies and bitter smells across the state.
But how does Illinois' air quality compare to other states?
Opera Beds, a company that sells home hospital beds for those with medical conditions and enhanced needs, collected data from several organizations to study the average lung health and air quality of all 50 states.
Here's how Illinois fared.
COPD rate in Illinois
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of lung diseases that worsen over time, the most common being emphysema and chronic bronchitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
COPD is a leading cause of death in the U.S., with nearly 16 million Americans reporting being diagnosed. Symptoms include shortness of breath, frequent chest infections, persistent wheezing and a chesty cough.
In Illinois, 6.3% of adults reported ever being told by a health professional that they had COPD, emphysema or chronic bronchitis, according to America's Health Rankings.
This is near the U.S. average rate of 6.4%. As such, Illinois ranks 22nd in the country for COPD rates – right in the middle.
How bad is the air quality in Illinois?
Illinois is tied with Nevada for the third worst air quality in the country, ranking behind just Arizona and California, according to 2021-2023 data published by America's Health Rankings.
The organization measured the average exposure of the general public to particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less, measured in micrograms per cubic meter. Illinois scored a value of 9.8.
The average value across the U.S. is 8.6, with California having the highest value of 12.7.
The Environmental Protection Agency reported that 55.2 million pounds of toxins were released from 968 facilities into the air in Illinois in 2023.
What is the smoking rate in Illinois?
Illinois fared much better when it comes to smokers, according to data published by the American Lung Association.
The Prairie State tied with Oregon for 33rd in the nation when it comes to current adult smokers, with just 12.4% (1.1 million) of the demographic participating. Data from 2022 shows that 52.9% reported trying to quit, and more than 5.8 million reported never having picked up the habit.
Illinois is also one of 28 states with the entirety of its population covered by 100% smoke-free laws for restaurants, bars and nonhospitality workplaces, according to America's Health Rankings.
How humid is Illinois?
Forbes ranked every state by average relative humidity in 2018, and Illinois wasn't as high on the list as some may expect.
Surprisingly, Illinois only ranked 18th in the country, with an average relative humidity of 70.9%.
Still, one 2023 study found that humidity outside of the 40-60% range can lead to increased levels of infections and increased growth of allergens.
How cold is Illinois?
Temperature can be a factor in lung health as well, with extreme temperatures outside of the 66.6-77 degree range often irritating the airways and negatively impacting lung function, according to OperaBeds.
Global data tracker Data Pandas found that Illinois has an average temperature of 52.7 degrees, the warmest in the Midwest and one of the warmest in the northern half of the U.S.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: How bad is air quality in Illinois? See smoking rates, humidity, lung health
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