Air Quality Alert: St. Louis (Metro-east) Reaches Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Level
Areazine synthesizes this EPA air-quality advisory directly from EPA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
On February 13, 2026, air quality in the St. Louis (Metro-east) area reached an AQI of 112, categorized as Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups due to fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
What this EPA air-quality advisory tells you, and what most readers miss
This notice was issued by EPA on April 6, 2026 and geographically references St. Louis (Metro-east), IL. Its severity classification of "low" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken - "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to - Air Quality - determines the informational context it sits in, and which agency or body is the authoritative source for updates.
Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to verify its scope, source, and timestamp, then compare related notices without assuming that one record proves a broader trend.
Areazine pairs this record with the original agency URL so you can check the primary source before acting. Its related labels are air-quality, epa, aqi, St. Louis (Metro-east).
Current Air Quality
On February 13, 2026, the St. Louis (Metro-east) area in Illinois reported an air quality index (AQI) of 112. The primary pollutant of concern is fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is currently in the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" category. Additionally, PM10 levels were measured at an AQI of 21, which is considered "Good."
What This Means
An AQI level of 112 means that air quality is unhealthy for members of sensitive groups. According to standard EPA categories, this level indicates that while the general public is not likely to be affected, individuals with specific health sensitivities may experience health effects.
Who Should Take Precautions
Groups at risk include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and teenagers. These individuals are more sensitive to the effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) than the general population.
What You Should Do
Members of sensitive groups should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. It is advisable to take more breaks and engage in less intense outdoor activities. Monitor for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. The general public is not expected to be affected at this AQI level.
Source
EPA AirNow
Original source: EPA Official Notice ↗
Related Air Quality
All Air Quality →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this EPA air-quality advisory.