Air Quality Alert

[avinsen]

For those of you in the Twin Cities:

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air pollution health advisory through Friday for most of Minnesota. Particularly for the Twin Cities and Rochester.

Currently as of this posting, the air quality meter is as follows:

Comments

[sceptre1067]

hmm... wonder if that is why my eyes are bugging me.

[avinsen]

Here is what the MPCA site has to say about the Particulate Matter:

Particulate Matter, Fine (PM2.5)
Fine particulate matter is a complex mixture of very small liquid droplets or solid particles in the air. Major sources are cars, trucks, construction equipment, coal-fired power plants, wood burning, vegetation and livestock. These particles can be directly released when coal, gasoline, diesel fuels and wood are burned. Many fine particles are also formed in the atmosphere from chemical reactions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, organic compounds and ammonia. Fine particulates are associated with increased hospitalizations and deaths due to respiratory and heart disease and can worsen the symptoms of asthma. People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children are the groups most at risk. Fine particles are also major contributors to reduced visibility (haze).

[crinklequirk]

Well, that explains some of why I just can't breathe properly the last few days. Not just the mild sinus infection, eh?

LOVELY, though, for a state covered in one type of cold/flu/pneumonia/pink-eye/what-have-you-respiratory-infection, though. :P to the air quality right now.