The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air pollution health advisory for the Twin Cities and Rochester for Friday, Feb. 19, and an air pollution health alert for the same areas on Saturday, Feb. 20.
The MPCA issues an air pollution health alert when the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeds or is expected to exceed 101, the level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. An air pollution health advisory is issued when the AQI is expected to exceed 90.
An overnight temperature inversion, which traps pollutants near the surface, coupled with light to calm winds, which limit pollutant dispersion, is causing fine particle concentrations to build to levels considered unhealthy for sensitive groups in Rochester and the Twin Cities. As calm conditions persist into Saturday, fine particle levels are expected to continue to increase. Increased wind speeds from the north on Sunday are expected to improve pollutant dispersion, leading to high-moderate AQI levels on Sunday and low-moderate AQI levels on Monday, Feb. 22. Air quality is expected to improve to good AQI conditions by Tuesday, Feb. 23.
Those with respiratory or cardiovascular problems, young children, the elderly and individuals who participate in activities that require heavy exertion are the most sensitive to elevated levels of air pollution. Since fine particles can be drawn deeply into the lungs, it is a good idea to reduce or postpone activities that lead to deep or accelerated breathing. Exposure to high levels of fine particles may cause chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing and fatigue, even after air quality has improved. If you experience these symptoms, contact your physician. Even individuals that are otherwise healthy may experience health effects when air pollution increases.
Everyone can take steps to reduce contributions to local air pollution. Reducing motor vehicle emissions by carpooling, combining trips, avoiding idling, and using alternate transportation all help. During poor air quality events, people should also postpone burning wood and reduce their energy consumption.
For hourly air quality updates, visit the MPCA AQI Web site at http://aqi.pca.state.mn.us/. Sign up at http://mn.enviroflash.info to receive daily air quality forecasts and air pollution health alerts by email or text message.
