|
Although the
calendar may say it’s winter, summer draws nearer every day. To get ready, MPCA has overhauled its Air
Quality Index (AQI) forecasting program. Previously limited to the Twin Cities and
Rochester, this summer the MPCA will be forecasting air quality conditions
statewide.
Starting
June 1, the MPCA will issue daily air quality forecasts for over 15 locations across the state. This means people who may be sensitive to
elevated levels of air pollution – including children, the elderly, and those
with respiratory problems – can be better prepared to protect their health when
conditions are trending toward poor air quality.
 The AQI forecasts
will now look out three days, and focus on the color-coded categories the MPCA
has long used for AQI alerts. Green
means the air is expected to be healthy for all, yellow means moderate, and
orange means unhealthy for sensitive groups.
Red, rarely seen in Minnesota, means unhealthy for all.
This enhanced
forecasting ability should be helpful to Minnesotans who are planning road trips,
outdoor sporting events, or daily exercise routines -- especially for people who
are sensitive to air pollution.
Also this
spring, the MPCA will begin partnering with the six National Weather Service
(NWS) offices in Minnesota to include air quality alerts in their watch/warning/advisory
dissemination system, greatly enhancing the reach of the agency’s air quality alerts.
In addition to the NWS alerts, the Minnesota Department of Transportation will
continue providing notifications of air alerts via the travel alert signs
familiar to Twin Cities freeway users.
Air
pollution can harm people who have heart and cardiovascular disease, as well as
those with lung diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
If you have any of these conditions, MPCA encourages you to become “air aware” by
signing up to receive air quality
forecasts and alerts.
You can find additional information about health and
Minnesota’s indoor and outdoor air quality at www.beairawaremn.org.
|
| 
