Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Mark Sulzbach, 651-757-2770 mailto:mark.sulzbach@pca.state.mn.us Toll-free: 1-800-657-3864 Saint Paul, Minn. - Spring marks the start of Minnesota's ozone pollution season, and to help draw attention to air pollution issues, April 27 through May 1 is designated as "Air Quality Awareness Week" by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Unlike hazy days of elevated fine particle pollution, high ozone levels occur on hot, sunny, blue sky days. Last spring, in response to new EPA health standards, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) made both ozone and fine particle pollution health alert levels more protective. Despite stricter standards, no ozone pollution alerts were called in Minnesota last year. Sensitivity to ozone varies, but elevated levels can irritate eyes, nose and throat, and make breathing difficult even in healthy people. High ozone levels can trigger respiratory problems such as asthma and chronic bronchitis attacks in those who already suffer these diseases. Fine particle pollution is a year-round concern that causes problems similar to ozone, but can also trigger cardiovascular and heart problems for individuals with those existing health issues. According to Rick Strassman, the MPCA's air monitoring supervisor, the air in Minnesota is actually getting cleaner. "It's much better than it was 20 years ago, but stricter standards, improved monitoring equipment and air alert outreach efforts may make citizens think otherwise." Strassman said. The MPCA uses the EPA's color coded Air Quality Index (AQI) which has a 0-500 scale to convey air quality readings to the public on its Web site. Air alerts are triggered at 101 (orange) which reaches the "unhealthy for sensitive groups" category. Sensitive groups include senior citizens, young children, anyone with respiratory or heart problems, and anyone who labors or exercises strenuously. Ozone is a colorless gas created when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) mix with nitrogen oxides in hot sunny weather. In Minnesota, ozone season runs April through September. VOCs and nitrogen oxides (and fine particle pollution) are emitted when fossil fuels are burned. Chemicals, paints, solvents, petroleum products and even trees emit VOCs. Citizens are encouraged to help reduce air pollution by reducing electricity use, driving and idling less, refueling vehicles after 8 p.m. and limiting the use of paints, solvents and wood fires. Surprisingly, gas-powered lawn mowers emit more VOCs per hour than a modern car because they lack pollution control technology, so consider mowing less often, replacing grass with annuals or using reel or electric mowers. To receive free daily air quality forecasts sign up at http://aqi.pca.state.mn.us/, where hourly AQI values and information on air pollution health effects are posted. For additional information on air quality health issues, see the Minnesota Department of Health Web site at www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/air/index.htm.