Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an Air Pollution Health Advisory for the southern two-thirds of Minnesota starting later today Tuesday, January 27th and running through mid-morning on Thursday, January 29th. Air quality is forecast to peak in a range from 87 to 97 on the air quality index (AQI) which is near the threshold of an air alert (called at 101 AQI) - for areas near St. Cloud, the Twin Cities and Rochester. Air quality is expected to improve Thursday as a cold front enters the region and brings with it westerly and northwesterly winds. Air monitors indicate fine particle concentrations are increasing throughout the state. Southerly winds are expected to carry pollutants into the region, and an approaching warm front will likely create a temperature inversion, limiting pollutant dispersion. Today's Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to reach high moderate by midnight, and may become unhealthy for sensitive groups at some monitoring locations on Wednesday. Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, the elderly, children, and individuals that work or exercise vigorously for extended periods of time. Be prepared to postpone or reduce vigorous activity. Fine particles can be drawn deeply into the lungs, so reduce activities that lead to deep or accelerated breathing (indoors and outdoors). Exposure to elevated fine particle levels can aggravate existing heart and lung diseases such as congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Fine particle exposure may cause you to experience fatigue, coughing, phlegm, chest pain, palpitations, wheezing and shortness of breath. If you experience these symptoms, consult with a medical physician. Sources of fine particles include all types of combustion, including motor vehicles, power plants, residential wood burning, forest fires, agricultural burning, and some industrial processes. You can help reduce fine particle levels by minimizing driving and vehicle idling, reducing energy consumption, and avoiding pollution producing activities like wood burning. To learn more about air pollution or check hourly updates of the Air Quality Index (AQI), go to the MPCA's AQI web page: http://aqi.pca.state.mn.us To have air alerts and daily air quality forecasts sent directly to your inbox or cell phone visit: http://mn.enviroflash.info