March 3, 2010
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air pollution health advisory for the Rochester area for today, Wednesday, March 3, through Saturday, March 6. An air pollution health advisory has also been issued for the Twin Cities metropolitan area starting tomorrow, March 4 through Saturday, March 6.
An air pollution health advisory is issued when the Air Quality Index is expected to exceed 90. The MPCA issues an air pollution health alert when the AQI exceeds or is expected to exceed 101, the level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.
An overnight temperature inversion, which traps pollutants near the surface, coupled with light-to-calm winds, which limit pollutant dispersion, are causing fine particle concentrations to approach a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups in Rochester. As winds remain calm and become more southerly tomorrow, additional pollutants will be transported into the region and will continue to build to potentially unhealthy levels in Rochester and the Twin Cities. Conditions are expected to remain elevated through Saturday March 6, and are expected to improve on Sunday March 7, as a weak low-pressure system moves through southern Minnesota, improving pollutant dispersion.
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 who are otherwise healthy may experience health effects when air pollution increases.
Everyone can help reduce air pollution. Reducing motor vehicle emissions by carpooling, combining trips, avoiding idling, and using alternative 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.
