Air Quality

Outdoor air quality in the United States has improved over the years due to air pollution control. Still, poor air quality can adversely affect people’s health. The health effects of breathing outdoor air pollution may include:

  • Lung, throat or eye irritation
  • Feeling out of breath or more tired than usual
  • Cough, wheezing or trouble breathing
  • Aggravation of existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma, COPD or emphysema
  • Fast heartbeat
  • Chest pain or tightness
  • Increased respiratory illness such as pneumonia or bronchitis

Children and teenagers, older adults, pregnant people, minority populations, people with chronic lung or heart conditions and people who are active outdoors (such as outdoor workers) are particularly susceptible to air pollution.

When the air quality is poor, people with asthma should follow their asthma action plans. People with other chronic respiratory conditions or heart disease should monitor their symptoms and contact their healthcare provider right away if they experience any symptoms of possible concern such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath or unusual fatigue. In medical emergencies, call 911 immediately.

Over time, breathing air pollution can lead to:

  • Adverse birth outcomes, such as low birth weight
  • Decreased lung growth in children
  • Lung cancer
  • Early death
  • family standing outside
  • exhaust from cars along a highway

Air Quality Data Queries

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources operates air monitoring instruments that collect data to determine whether air quality meets regulatory standards, identify air pollution trends and determine the source of air pollution problems. Air monitors measure concentrations of pollutants known to be hazardous to health, including ground-level ozone, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide.

Current Air Quality

This AirNow map shows current outdoor air quality. It is based on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Air Quality Index (AQI). The color-coded contours represent different levels of air quality based on concentrations of two widespread air pollutants, ozone and particulate matter (PM), in the air. In general, as those pollutant concentrations increase, the air becomes unhealthier to breathe and the likelihood of people experiencing health effects increases. See the legend in the map and the table below for a description of AQI values.

Air quality can change daily or even hourly. This AirNow map updates every hour. To see the green (good air quality) contours, click the box under Contours in the map. Click on the Forecast, Loops or Archive buttons to view predicted and past air quality. AirNow is a partnership of the EPA and multiple federal, state, local, and tribal agencies. For more information, visit www.AirNow.gov.

air quality index activity guide

*Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, teenagers, pregnant people, minority populations and people who are active outdoors (such as outdoor workers). People with asthma should follow their asthma action plan and keep quick relief medicine on hand. People with heart disease should monitor their symptoms and contact their healthcare provider right away if they experience heart palpitations, shortness of breath or unusual fatigue.

This AirNow map shows current outdoor air quality based on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Air Quality Index (AQI). The color-coded contours represent different levels of air quality based on concentrations of two widespread air pollutants, particulate matter and ground-level ozone, in the air. Particulate matter (PM) includes coarse particles like dust, soot, or smoke particles (known as PM10) and fine particles that cannot be seen and can be breathed deeply into the lungs (known as PM2.5).

In general, as pollutant concentrations increase, the air becomes increasingly unhealthy to breathe, and the likelihood of people experiencing health effects increases.

Air quality can change daily or even hourly. This AirNow map updates every hour.  AirNow is a partnership of the EPA and multiple federal, state, local, and tribal agencies.

Wildfire Smoke

near or far, wildfires can harm your health

Wildfire smoke can come from a local wildfire or travel hundreds of miles from the fire and look like haze in the sky. It contains gases and particulate matter that can affect people even if they are breathing smoke far from the fire source. People most at risk include children, older adults, pregnant people, people with chronic lung or heart conditions and people who are active outdoors (such as outdoor workers). However, when wildfire smoke levels are high, anyone is at risk of adverse health effects.

When Missouri is being impacted by wildfire smoke:

  • Check your local air quality often.
  • Follow recommendations for reducing or avoiding outdoor activities.
  • Close windows and doors.
  • In hot weather, run your air conditioning with the fresh air intake closed, or go to a local cooling center.
  • Use an indoor air filter. To keep indoor air as clean as possible, do not smoke, burn candles or use a gas stove. 
  • Follow your healthcare provider’s advice if you have a chronic health condition.
  • Limit outdoor time for your pets. They are also susceptible to wildfire smoke.

Visit AirNow’s Air Quality Map (above) and Fire and Smoke Map to view current fire locations, smoke plumes and air quality. If you have questions about wildfire smoke exposure, call your healthcare provider or poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.

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