Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Media contact: Mark Sulzbach, (651) 296-7768 Technical contact: Rick Strassman, (651) 296-7754 ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Spring marks the start of ozone (smog) season, but a state vapor-control law that went into effect Jan. 2 should help reduce odors near gas stations and ozone levels in the Twin Cities this year, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The law was the result of a cooperative effort involving industry, the city of Minneapolis, the MPCA and other groups, including the American Lung Association. The law requires gas stations and fuel-delivery companies in the seven-county metro area to capture fumes when tanker trucks fill the large, underground tanks at gas stations. "The new vapor-recovery equipment routes displaced hydrocarbon vapor back into the tanker truck, where it condenses, saving an estimated equivalent of 3,750 gallons of fuel each day that would otherwise evaporate in the Twin Cities," the MPCA's John Hensel,said. The captured vapors, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are recycled or treated back at the refineries to reduce emissions. VOCs are a major category of pollutants needed to form ground-level ozone. In Minnesota, ozone season runs from April through September. "Fine particle pollution can happen during any part of the year, but you need hot, sunny weather to create ozone," Rick Strassman, air monitoring unit supervisor with the MPCA, said. "Ozone, which is the main component of smog, irritates the lungs, even in healthy people." Medical studies show that exposure to even moderate levels of ozone over a short period can trigger health problems for people who have chronic lung diseases, such as asthma and bronchitis, or heart problems. Ozone forms when emissions of VOCs and oxides of nitrogen from vehicles, power plants, industry, small engines, fuels, paints and solvents mix in hot sunshine. Ozone is produced locally, but can spread to rural areas or be blown into Minnesota from other states. Levels of air pollutants are posted on the MPCA Web site at http://aqi.pca.state.mn.us/hourly/, using a tool called the "Air Quality Index," or AQI. The AQI is updated hourly, 6 a.m. to midnight, every day. AQI information includes health cautions for vulnerable or "sensitive" populations, usually meaning older adults, persons with cardiac or respiratory conditions, children, and healthy adults who exercise vigorously. Ozone health risks can be reduced by moving into an air-conditioned space and reducing exposure, taking medication, and lowering activity duration and level (for example, walk instead of run). The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) even offers an online asthma education program for coaches at http://www.health.state.mn.us/asthma/coachclipboard.htm. "When people know air pollution levels are high, they can postpone vigorous exercise and take it easy," said Kathleen Norlien, MDH research scientist. "Sports coaches may say they can't postpone practices, but they can require players to take more frequent rests and remind them to pay attention to how they're feeling. Coaches take similar precautions for extreme heat, so it's not a new concept." Here are some things we can do to help reduce ozone-forming pollutants in warm weather:
· Drive less -- take the bus, bike or carpool -- and don't idle engines.
· Don't top off your gas tank, which releases fumes into the air.
· Refuel when it's cool: refueling after 8 p.m. reduces evaporation. If, however, an Air Pollution Health Alert is issued:
· Postpone use of equipment that does not have pollution controls on its engine, such as lawnmowers and leaf blowers.
· Postpone use of paints and solvents.
· Reduce electricity use to help reduce air pollutants coming from power plants.
· Postpone recreational fires and the use of woodstoves and fireplaces. The AQI also measures pollution from fine particles or soot. "Fine particles" refers to particles smaller than one-fortieth the width of a human hair. Because these particles are so small, they can be inhaled deeply into the lungs. Evidence shows even low levels of fine-particle pollution are unhealthy for those with heart and respiratory conditions. Fine particle pollution is monitored by the MPCA year-round, and was the cause of most of Minnesota's Air Pollution Health Alerts in 2004 and 2005. If the air becomes or is predicted to become unhealthy, the MPCA notifies the news media and those who have signed up for its free e-mail Air Pollution Health Alerts. You can sign up to receive the alerts electronically at /air/aqi-subscribe.html. So far in 2006, the MPCA has issued only one Air Pollution Health Alert: in early March for fine particles in the Twin Cities area. The AQI Web page (http://aqi.pca.state.mn.us/hourly/) also includes metro-area air quality forecasts for the following day. Both metro area daily newspapers publish these forecasts. The current daytime AQI reading is available by phoning (651) 297-1630. "If the air quality forecast for tomorrow says unhealthy, we can cut down emissions-producing activities today and tomorrow," Strassman said. "For instance, we can postpone mowing the lawn or painting the fence for a day or two, and take a bus or carpool to work with a neighbor." There is AQI information on the MPCA's Web site for Brainerd, Detroit Lakes, Duluth, Ely, Rochester, and St. Cloud as well as the Twin Cities metro area. Nearly 300 U.S. cities issue AQI forecasts.?