The Free Press, Mankato, MN

News Ticker

Local News

December 18, 2007

Air quality alert

People with respiratory problems should be wary

By Brian Ojanpa

MANKATO — The official word on air you likely weren’t worried about in the first place is ... don’t worry about it.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air-quality advisory through Friday for the southern part of the state, but adverse effects on most people should be negligible.

“It’s nothing to really get too excited about because it doesn’t really affect many people and it may disappear by (today) or Thursday,” said KEYC TV meteorologist Mark Tarello.

The MPCA said air quality is expected to hit marginal or even unsafe conditions this week because of a stagnant air mass.

Air quality index levels of more than 90 are considered unhealthy for sensitive groups with respiratory, cardiovascular and heart conditions, as well as senior citizens, children and physically active adults.

Levels of more than 150 are considered unhealthy for all people.

On Tuesday, Rochester had an afternoon air quality index of 96, while Marshall’s was at 57 — moderate readings with no health impacts, according to state guidelines.

Readings aren’t kept for Mankato, but being about equidistant between Marshall and Rochester would suggest local readings somewhere between those two cities’.

Air quality becomes compromised when winds aren’t strong enough to disperse fine-particle pollution from such sources as car exhaust, wood smoke and burning of fossil fuels.

Immanuel St. Joseph’s Hospital respiratory therapist Charlie McArthur said risk groups should exercise diligence regarding outdoor activity.

“People in those groups should just be more aware of shortness of breath. They see this blue sky and think nothing could possibly be wrong.”

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News