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News release

July 25, 2023

Contact

Nick Witcraft, 651-757-2136, aqi.pca@state.mn.us

Air quality alert issued for ozone for Tuesday through Thursday, July 27, for Twin Cities metro

Map showing active air quality alert in the orange category for the Twin Cities metro until 9 p.m. Thursday, July 27.

Air quality is expected to reach the orange AQI category in the Twin Cities, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for the Twin Cities, effective from noon on Tuesday, July 25, through 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 27. The affected area includes the Twin Cities metropolitan area, and the tribal nation of Prairie Island.

The air quality alert in northern Minn. for wildfire smoke has been allowed to expire.

In the Twin Cities, ground-level ozone is expected to be high during the afternoon hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Sunny skies, warm temperatures, and low humidity will create an environment favorable for two types of pollutants (volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides) to react in the air to produce ground-level ozone. Ozone will be highest during the afternoon and early evening hours when sunshine is most abundant, and temperatures are highest. Ozone will be low in the morning, late evening, and overnight.

Ozone levels are expected to reach the orange air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, across central and southern Minn. The health impacts of air quality are exacerbated by extreme heat. Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, children and older adults, and people who are active outdoors, should take extra precautions and avoid prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. The general public should consider timing outdoor exertion during the morning hours when both temperatures and ozone levels are the lowest.

The alert area includes the Twin Cities and the tribal nation of Prairie Island. In the orange ozone alert area, sensitive groups should limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors during the afternoon and early evening.

Air alert ozone

What this alert means

The air quality index (AQI) is color-coded. Air quality alerts are issued when the AQI is forecast to reach an unhealthy level, which includes forecasts in the orange, red, purple, and maroon categories. For a full description of each air quality category, visit airnow.gov.

Health effects 

There are people who are more likely to be affected when ozone pollution reaches an unhealthy level. The health impacts of air quality are exacerbated by extreme heat.

  • People who have asthma or other breathing conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, and emphysema.
  • Children and teenagers.
  • People of all ages who are doing extended or heavy, physical activity like playing sports or working outdoors.
  • Some healthy people who are more sensitive to ozone even though they have none of the risk factors. There may be a genetic base for this increased sensitivity.

Unhealthy ozone and fine particulate levels can aggravate lung diseases like asthma, emphysema, and COPD. When the air quality is unhealthy, people with these conditions may experience symptoms like difficulty breathing deeply, shortness of breath, throat soreness, wheezing, coughing, or unusual fatigue. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, use your inhalers as directed and contact your health care provider.

Take precautions: Everyone should take precautions when the air quality is unhealthy.

  • Take it easy and listen to your body.
  • Limit, change, or postpone your physical activity.
  • If possible, stay away from local sources of air pollution like busy roads and wood fires.
  • If you have asthma, or other breathing conditions like COPD, make sure you have your relief/rescue inhaler with you.
  • People with asthma should review and follow guidance in their written asthma action plan. Make an appointment to see your health provider if you don’t have an asthma action plan.

Pollution reduction tips 

Ozone is produced on hot, sunny days by a chemical reaction between volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen.

  • Reduce vehicle trips and fill the gas tank at dawn or dusk.
  • Encourage use of public transport, or carpool, when possible.
  • Postpone use of gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment on air alert days. Use battery or manual equipment instead.
  • Avoid backyard fires.

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