This story was produced in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Investigative Journalism class taught in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Pablo Toral’s summer at the Boundary Waters was abruptly cut short as wildfires forced an evacuation, disrupting a nearly 70-year-old field program tradition. Toral, a professor at Beloit College, found himself navigating a canoe to safety, leaving behind a summer of anticipated research and exploration.
With students already settled at the research station, ready for a month of fieldwork, the sudden evacuation alert changed everything. Toral, chair of environmental studies and political science, noted that the worsening conditions led to the program’s cancellation.
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Returning to Beloit after a night of travel, Toral was greeted by thick smoke and poor air quality, remnants of the fires he had just escaped.
Air quality has been a persistent issue for Beloit residents, compounded by nearby power plant emissions and now wildfire smoke. In 2023, the city was named the worst for air pollution in the U.S., echoing concerns from a few years prior.
Rock County’s asthma rates exceed the state average, further heightening concerns over pollution. Cristine Rameker from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services highlighted that asthma-related hospitalizations in Rock County were 39% higher than the state average between 2022 and 2024.
Emergency department visits for asthma in Rock County were also notably higher, particularly among children, adding to the region’s health challenges. In 2024 alone, 138 asthma-related emergency visits among children were recorded, averaging one every two-and-a-half days.
In the Beloit School District, 11% of students have asthma, yet not all have access to inhalers at school, further complicating the situation.
Brittany Keyes, clean air policy manager with Healthy Climate Wisconsin, recounted an incident highlighting the asthma crisis. A group of third graders from Beloit, having completed a 5K event, faced a scare when one girl struggled to breathe on their bus ride home.
“She takes out a bag — nope, it’s not hers. She takes another bag — nope, not hers, not hers, nope, not hers,” Keyes recalled, illustrating the severity of the situation. “There were six inhalers for a group of 22 girls. … That’s not normal, and it doesn’t have to be that way, right?”
No particulate sensors in Beloit
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) remains a pressing issue for Beloit residents. Nick Mailloux from the University of Wisconsin-Madison explained that PM2.5’s small size allows it to penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream, leading to various health issues.
Sources of PM2.5 pollution include power plants, vehicle emissions, and increasingly, wildfires. Despite the challenges, Beloit’s monitoring capabilities lag, with only a seasonal ozone monitor in place.
Efforts to improve monitoring have been underway, with community initiatives like the installation of PurpleAir monitors. These devices, though less rigorous than regulatory monitors, provide valuable data on air quality.
Despite early data raising concerns, the DNR requires three years of data to establish an annual standard. However, community efforts have expanded monitoring, with over 20 PurpleAir monitors now installed in Rock County.
Keyes expressed optimism about the expanded monitoring network, noting that it now covers a broader geographical area and includes rural locations. However, Beloit was recently ranked the most polluted city in the U.S. by IQAir, based on data from these monitors.
What makes Beloit ‘pollution central’
Multiple factors contribute to Beloit’s pollution woes. Toral pointed to regional pollution, transportation emissions, and nearby industrial activity, compounded by unusual weather patterns bringing wildfire smoke into the area.
Toral explained how converging winds brought smoke from Quebec wildfires, creating a “perfect storm” for pollution. Despite its small size, Beloit’s monitoring capabilities allow it to document these conditions, though comparisons with larger cities like Chicago and Madison suggest broader regional issues.
Keyes and the Stateline Clean Air Coalition continue to advocate for a regulatory PM2.5 monitor in Beloit. The DNR, however, relies on data from nearby Rockford, Illinois, arguing that state standards are met.
Craig Czarnecki from the DNR emphasized that regulatory monitors are preferred for decision-making due to their accuracy, while community sensors serve for general awareness. Despite requests, the DNR has not expanded monitoring, citing budget constraints and federal compliance.
Concerns over emissions persist, particularly with the expansion of Beloit’s energy infrastructure. Alliant Energy’s new natural gas facility has drawn attention, though the company assures compliance with environmental regulations.
Who’s affected
Beloit’s pollution issues disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including low-income communities and people of color. Toral described the situation as a “case of environmental injustice,” with pollution exacerbating health problems for children and older adults.
Keyes highlighted regional disparities, noting that while Madison has reduced emissions, Beloit has seen an increase in power plant operations. Her daughter, among youth plaintiffs, filed a lawsuit seeking consideration of air pollution in power plant permits.
New record, new norm
Air quality records were shattered in Wisconsin as wildfire smoke enveloped the region, reminiscent of conditions seen in 2023. Toral noted that the Great Lakes’ geography makes Wisconsin a focal point for such pollution events.
Toral expressed concern over the recurring nature of these fire seasons, noting the unpredictable yet increasingly frequent nature of these events. “We thought that the fire season we saw two years ago was one of a kind — was very unusual — and here it is again, two years later,” he said. “This is a very unusual pattern.”
