ST PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is issuing an Air Quality Alert for east central and southeastern Minnesota on Friday, due to concerns about unhealthy ozone levels with the hot weather.
The alert is in effect on Friday, July 3 from noon until 8 p.m., and includes the Twin Cities metro area, St. Cloud, Rochester, Winona, and the Prairie Island tribal nation.
Air Quality Index values are expected to reach the orange category, or "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups."
"Sunny skies, hot temperatures, and light winds will combine to cause an increase in ground level ozone," the MPCA said in a news release. "Light winds over the past two days have caused the pollutants nitrogen dioxide and volatile organic compounds to accumulate over the region. Sunny skies and hot temperatures will cause these pollutants to react in the air and form ozone."
The MPCA said unhealthy ozone levels can aggravate certain lung diseases, including asthma, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). People with these conditions should watch for symptoms of difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, throat soreness or unusual fatigue.
Children and people doing strenuous physical activity outdoors may also be affected when ozone pollution reaches unhealthy levels. The MPCA said it's also possible for some otherwise healthy people to be more sensitive to ozone, even though they may have no other risk factors.
The MPCA listed the following precautions when air quality is considered 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.
More information about the Air Quality Index can be found on the MPCA website.
A Heat Advisory is also in effect from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Twin Cities metro area, with heat index values expected to be in the mid-90s.
