Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an Air Pollution Health Alert today due to poor air quality from fine particle pollution for the Twin Cities metro area and southern Minnesota including Rochester and Marshall. The Twin Cities air quality is expected to improve this afternoon, but Rochester may experience poor air quality for most of the day. Rochester registered an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 95 at 9 a.m. today and may reach above 100 which is the threshold for the category of Unhealthy for Sensitve Groups. The Twin Cities and southern Minnesota including Rochester are expected to reach an AQI of 90 or more for part of the day. The high humidity and foggy conditions over southern Minnesota has created an ideal situation for fine particle pollution formation and southerly winds have transported additional pollution. The winds are expected to change direction and come from the north starting around noon today which will begin to clear out the Twin Cities. But this wind direction change may likely blow some of the Twin City pollution back into Rochester extending Rochester's high pollution levels. Sensitive groups include those with respiratory problems such as asthma, and cardiovascular problems as well as senior citizens, children and physically active adults. The public is encouraged to check the MPCA's air quality Web site and avoid vigorous or prolonged exercise if the AQI is high. Others, including athletes and other healthy adults should consider early morning activities, or reducing or postponing heavy exertion (play shorter games, walk instead of run, rotate players more frequently, etc.). Moving indoors to an air conditioned environment will reduce ozone exposure but not fine particles. PLEASE HELP REDUCE AIR POLLUTION DURING THIS ALERT: · reduce driving when possible and don't idle your vehicle engine (vehicle exhaust contributes to ozone and particle formation)
· postpone use small gas or diesel engines
· postpone recreational fires

To check hourly updates of the AQI, visit: http://aqi.pca.state.mn.us/ For additional information on reducing air pollution, visit Clean Air Minnesota (CAM) at: http://www.mn-ei.org/air/resources.html#FactSheets