Air Quality in Indiana

One of the many responsibilities of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is to protect the quality of Indiana’s air. This responsibility couldn’t be more important because air quality affects us every minute of every day. Good air quality helps us live our lives with vitality and energy. Poor air quality can cause harm to our health and the environment.

A national approach to air pollution control is established in the Clean Air Act (CAA), with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) as the foundation for reducing six common (criteria) pollutants including carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide. United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the states have authority and certain responsibilities for implementing the CAA.

IDEM’s Office of Air Quality (OAQ) implements CAA requirements in Indiana. The Compliance & Enforcement Branch, Air Programs Branch, Air Monitoring Branch, and Air Permits Branch within OAQ work in coordination to carry out Indiana’s air quality programs.

There are many ways for the public to stay informed about air quality including IDEM SmogWatch daily forecasts and air quality maps, data, and reports. OAQ's Featured Topics page highlights information about regulations and issues with wide public interest.