[Mpls] Air pollution advisory

[mclemore at bitstream.net]

The MPCA has issued an Air Pollution Advisory for Thursday and 
Friday, March 25 and 26, for the southern half of Minnesota.  
Residents of the Duluth area, although not included in this advisory, 
are advised to watch the AQI also.  Conditions are expected to 
improve as rain moves in this weekend.

Air Quality Index (AQI):  the AQI forecast for Thursday and Friday is 
expected to be in the upper 90s, possibly reaching 100.  The 
pollutant of concern is FINE PARTICLES (soot).  An AQI near or over 
100 indicates air quality that is unhealthy for "sensitive" groups 
(see below).  

Health precautions:  "Sensitive" groups include those with heart or 
lung disease (including asthma), adults over 50, and healthy adults 
and children engaged in figorous exercise where they breathe deeply.  
These individuals should reduce or postpone heavy exertion (play 
shorter games, walk instead of run, rotate players more frequently, 
etc.)  People with heart conditions are especially vulnerable to fine 
particle pollution.

What you can do during this advisory:
*	reduce driving where possible and don't idle your vehicle engine 
(vehicle exhaust adds fine particles to the air)
*	postpone activities with small gasoline or diesel engines, which 
also contain particles
*	postpone fires in your fireplace and outdoors, which add soot 
particles to the air

To learn more to to check hourly updates of the AQI, visit:  
http://aqi.pca.state.mn.us/hourly

For additional information on reducing air pollution, visit Clean Air 
Minnesota  (CAM) at:
http://www.mn-ei.org/air/resources.html#FactSheets