Minnesota air quality alert is unrelated to wildfires, MPCA says
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The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an air quality alert for much of Minnesota until 9 p.m. Monday, stretching across the entire western half of the state and including central Minnesota, Minneapolis, St. Paul and Mankato.
The air quality alert comes as wildfires continue to burn near Brimson, northeast of Duluth. But while wildfires were a constant source of air pollution in 2023, Monday’s air quality has less to do with the fire — and more to do with the weather.
“We’ve got plenty of sunshine, we’ve got hot temperatures, really dry air in place,” MPCA meteorologist Ryan Lueck told All Things Considered host Emily Reese.
“Pollutants and chemicals will react with the strong sunlight to create that ozone pollution.”
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Children and teenagers, as well as people with asthma or other breathing conditions are more likely to be impacted by an air quality alert.
When wildfire smoke diminishes air quality, masks can be an effective filter against particles. But they don’t work well with ozone pollution.
Instead, the best protection is limiting time spent outdoors Monday, Lueck said.
Press play above to listen to Lueck’s conversation with Reese.