[Mpls] Air pollution advisory

[mclemore at bitstream.net]

Courtesy of Becky Helgesen (Becky.Helgesen at state.mn.us).

1:45 p.m., Friday, August 6, 2004

A weekend Air Pollution Advisory has been issued for the Twin Cities
metropolitan area and Rochester, forecast to run through Sunday
afternoon.  A large mass of fine particles is moving north from Iowa 
and picking up more pollution from Minnesota as it goes.  Currently, 
only Rochester and the Twin Cities are under advisory, but the 
pollution is moving northeast, which means that Duluth may be 
affected later in the holiday weekend.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) has been rising steadily and is expected 
to reach 100 or more, meaning Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, by late
Friday or Saturday.  Sensitive groups include people with heart or 
lung disease, as well as children and athletes.

Major pollutant:  fine particles (soot)  

Health precautions:  Take it easy, especially if you have heart or 
lung disease, including asthma.  Children and athletes are also 
vulnerable because they breathe deeply when exercising.  Even if you 
are not in the "sensitive" category, moderate vigorous activities 
that lead to deep breathing.
	-Postpone or reduce vigorous activity (e.g., walk instead of
run, postpone yardwork)
	-Rotate players more frequently in games to allow players more
rest
	-Reduce activity if you become more tired than usual
	
Reduce sources of fine particles:  
	-Limit driving  
	-Postpone using yard and other small gasoline and diesel engines
	-Postpone recreational fires  
	-Turn off as many electric devices as possible to reduce demand
on power plants


The AQI is updated hourly.  You can check it on the MPCA's web page 
at: http://aqi.pca.state.mn.us/hourly/

For more information on how individuals can reduce air pollution, go 
to Clean Air Minnesota at:  http://www.mn-ei.org


Liz McLemore
Bancroft neighborhood