Air quality in the Twin Cities may reach unhealthy levels on Friday afternoon and evening.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality alert for the Twin Cities metro area from noon to 9 p.m. Friday.
Unlike many air quality alerts in Minnesota in recent years, Friday’s alert does not stem from wildfire smoke in the air. Instead, it’s due to ground-level ozone created by a combination of weather conditions.
“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,” the MPCA reported.
Forecasters say air quality in the metro area may reach the orange category on Friday afternoon and evening — meaning unhealthy for sensitive groups. That includes people with asthma or other chronic breathing conditions, as well as children and the elderly.
“Unhealthy ozone can aggravate lung diseases like asthma, emphysema, and COPD. When the air quality is unhealthy, people with these conditions may experience symptoms like difficulty breathing deeply, shortness of breath, throat soreness, wheezing, coughing, or unusual fatigue,” the MPCA reported.
People in the Twin Cities — especially those in sensitive groups — may want to limit or postpone outdoor activities while the alert is in effect.
The air quality should improve after sunset Friday.
The MPCA offered tips on how people can help reduce the amount of pollutants in the air:
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Reduce driving; carpool or use public transit when possible
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If you need to fill your vehicle with gas or diesel, avoid filling up during the middle of the day
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Avoid using gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment until the alert has ended, or use battery or manual-powered equipment instead
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Avoid backyard campfires
