Air Quality Alert issued for portions of western and central Minnesota

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) issued an Air Quality Alert for western and central Minnesota. This alert will be in effect from noon to 9 pm on Monday and is due to ozone.

According to MPCA, the mostly 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 the highest during the afternoon and early evening. Another alert is possible on Tuesday afternoon as similar conditions are expected.

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The affected area includes the Twin Cities metro, Brainerd, Alexandria, Albert Lea, Marshall, Worthington, St. Cloud, Ortonville, Mankato, Bemidji, East Grand Forks, Moorhead, Roseau, and the tribal nations of Upper Sioux, Mille Lacs, Prairie Island, Leech Lake, and Red Lake. Air quality is expected to reach the Orange Air Quality Index category, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Those in sensitive groups include:

• 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 basis for this increased sensitivity.

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

MPCA recommends the following precautions:

• 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 the guidance in their written asthma action plan. Make an appointment to see your health provider if you don’t have an asthma action plan.

Ozone is produced on hot, sunny days by a chemical reaction between volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen. Here are ways to reduce pollution:

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