Index of SPPS Budget Discussion http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/spps-posts.html _________________________________________ The Ramsey County Board approved the community health priorities for the Saint Paul - Ramsey County Department of Public Health for 2004 to 2008. On the list of ten priorities is improving air quality. This is the first time that local public health has identified this as a priority. In part, this is because there appears to be less priority for air quality at both the state and federal level. The first area of study is fine particulates which is what brings about today's Air Quality Index rise to advisory level.
The majority of these small particles come from on-road vehicle and off-road engines (lawn mowers, etc.) We know that the increasing traffic counts on major highways and the lessened public concern about vehicle MPG performance is part of the problem. It is easy for us to point to large source industries, but the primary change in behavior has to be at the individual level. Of course, one of the actions for a high pollution day is to reduce your personal driving, don't operate gasoline engines, don't burn wood in your fireplaces, take the bus (Hah!). And Andy, PCA does keep a count of the number of days that advisories are communicated. Rob Fulton, Highland Park -----Original Message----- From: Andy Driscoll [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 7:25 PM To: St. Paul Discuss Subject: [StPaul] Air pollution advisory Index of SPPS Budget Discussion http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/spps-posts.html _________________________________________ Here we go again. Anyone counting? Andy Driscoll Crocus Hill The MPCA has issued an Air Pollution Advisory for Thursday and Friday, March 25 and 26, for the southern half of Minnesota. Residents of the Duluth area, although not included in this advisory, are advised to watch the AQI also. Conditions are expected to improve as rain moves in this weekend. Air Quality Index (AQI): the AQI forecast for Thursday and Friday is expected to be in the upper 90s, possibly reaching 100. The pollutant of concern is FINE PARTICLES (soot). An AQI near or over 100 indicates air quality that is unhealthy for "sensitive" groups (see below). Health precautions: "Sensitive" groups include those with heart or lung disease (including asthma), adults over 50, and healthy adults and children engaged in figorous exercise where they breathe deeply. These individuals should reduce or postpone heavy exertion (play shorter games, walk instead of run, rotate players more frequently, etc.) People with heart conditions are especially vulnerable to fine particle pollution. What you can do during this advisory: * reduce driving where possible and don't idle your vehicle engine (vehicle exhaust adds fine particles to the air) * postpone activities with small gasoline or diesel engines, which also contain particles * postpone fires in your fireplace and outdoors, which add soot particles to the air To learn more to to check hourly updates of the AQI, visit: http://aqi.pca.state.mn.us/hourly For additional information on reducing air pollution, visit Clean Air Minnesota (CAM) at: http://www.mn-ei.org/air/resources.html#FactSheets _____________________________________________ SPPS Budget Reduction Forum - Feb. 23-27 Co-Sponsored By NEAT: http://www.stpaulneat.org/ _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/ _____________________________________________ SPPS Budget Reduction Forum - Feb. 23-27 Co-Sponsored By NEAT: http://www.stpaulneat.org/ _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
