Friday, February 27, 2004 The MPCA has issued an Air Quality Alert for late today and the rest of the weekend. Air monitors in the Twin Cities, Duluth, Rochester and St. Cloud indicate a rising concentration of fine particles or soot in the air.
Air Quality Index (AQI): the AQI has been hovering around 90 for the past day or two, but is forecast to rise above 100 by Saturday, and not drop until late Sunday. An AQI of 100 or above indicates air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups, which include athletes, children, older adults and those with heart and respiratory conditions. People with heart conditions are especially vulnerable to fine particle pollution. Health precautions: "Sensitive" groups include those with heart or lung disease (including asthma), adults over 50, and healthy adults and children engaged in vigorous exercise where they breathe deeply. These individuals should postpone or reduce heavy exertion (play shorter games, walk instead of run, rotate players more frequently, etc.) What you can do: * reduce driving where possible and don't idle your engine in parking lots and drive-throughs this weekend; vehicle exhaust contains fine particles * postpone activities with small gasoline or diesel engines * postpone fires in your fireplace, which add soot particles to the air To learn more or check hourly updates of the AQI, visit: http://aqi.pca.state.mn.us/hourly For additiional information on reducing air pollution, visit Clean Air Minnesota at: http://www.mn-ei.org/air/resources.html#FactSheets Liz McLemore Bancroft REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
