Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Media Contact: Mark Sulzbach, 651-296-7768 Saint Paul, Minn. -- Fall weather signals the end of the risk for ozone air-pollution alerts in Minnesota. But air-pollution health alerts from elevated levels of microscopic fine particles found in emissions from vehicles, industry, electrical power plants, and wood smoke can occur at any time of the year. The cool fall and winter weather in Minnesota often bring temperature inversions-warm air over cold air-ideal for trapping fine particles and allowing them to build to unsafe levels. As temperatures plummet, many Minnesotans can't wait to use their fireplaces or wood stoves, while others fall into the bad habit of idling their cars or trucks excessively. However, people with respiratory problems such as asthma and chronic bronchitis, or heart problems, may cringe at the sight of billowing exhaust from vehicles or the smell of wood smoke - and for good reason. Fine particles in vehicle exhaust and wood smoke can irritate eyes and throat, and trigger respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Fine particles are also harmful for young children with developing lungs or anyone exercising strenuously and breathing deeply. To reduce fine particle emissions from vehicles, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) strongly encourages drivers to limit idling to one minute. Vehicles made after 1994 don't need more than a minute of idling to warm up the engine for operation, even in the winter. Minnesotans can also help limit the release of fine particles from burning wood. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, even a modern wood stove creates 160 times more fine particles than a natural-gas furnace. If you do burn wood, be a good neighbor by building only small, hot fires with dry, seasoned wood. The fuel you burn in a wood stove or fireplace does make a difference. Never burn garbage, plastics, colored paper or colored newsprint. For more information on wood smoke visit www.pca.state.mn.us/air/woodsmoke/healtheffects.html. The MPCA also reminds the public that reducing electricity use will reduce fine particle emissions because about 70 percent of Minnesota's electricity is generated from burning coal. The MPCA monitors measure ambient air quality in eight cities which are used for Air Quality Index (AQI) readings. Although air alerts are rare in Minnesota they do happen a few times each year. The hourly readings of fine particles or ozone are posted on the MPCA Web site at http://aqi.pca.state.mn.us/. Citizens can sign up for free e-mail air alerts on the MPCA air monitoring page by clicking on "Sign up for email notices" in the left column. Learn more about health concerns associated with air pollution on the MPCA Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us/air/woodsmoke/index.html and the Minnesota Department of Health Web site at www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/air/pm.htm.