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Northwestern Environmental Health and Safety

Air Quality Alert

July 16, 2026

Summary

Smoke from Canadian wildfires has created unhealthy air quality in the Chicagoland area today. Outdoor work should be minimized whenever possible. Stay up to date on current air quality conditions at AirNow.gov

Safety tips:

If you must work outdoors:

  • Limit strenuous activity and take more frequent breaks indoors or in filtered air.
  • Watch for symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, or eye/throat irritation.
  • Employees with asthma or other respiratory conditions should take extra precautions and notify their supervisor if symptoms develop.
  • Stop work and notify your supervisor if air quality conditions make the work unsafe.
Non-essential outdoor work should be postponed or rescheduled whenever feasible.