The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality alert for the Twin Cities and central Minnesota. The alert also includes St. Cloud. It takes effect at noon on Tuesday and runs until 9:00 p.m.
Air quality is expected to reach the orange AQI category, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups.
"Ground-level ozone is expected to be high on Tuesday afternoon in the Twin Cities metro area and central Minnesota," says a report from the MPCA. "Mostly sunny skies, warm temperatures, and low humidity will provide a favorable environment for two types of pollutants (volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides) to react with sunlight in the air to produce ground-level ozone. Ozone is expected to increase during the late morning, reach alert levels during the afternoon, and then subside in the early evening."
Ground-level ozone is expected to be high this afternoon with sunny skies, warm temperatures, and low humidity providing a favorable environment for two types of pollutants.
"Oftentimes there's irritation in the eyes, there can be irritation in the throat," says Dr. Micah Niermann with Gillette Children's Hospital.
He says ozone, unlike wildfire smoke, limits lung function, causes painful deep breaths, chest tightness, coughing, and more.
"They feel more tired, fatigued, even nauseated," says Niermann. "So there are a lot of different signs and symptoms that can show up."
Parents should also keep a close eye on kids, who Niermann says are particularly vulnerable.
"Not only for their size, they're already vulnerable, all kids, regardless of their medical condition," Niermann explains. "But also just because they are outside more often, and they're highly active, so that just puts them at more risk."
People whose health is affected by unhealthy air quality: Some people are more likely to be affected when ozone pollution reaches an unhealthy level:
- 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 base for this increased sensitivity
