Air pollution warning cancelled

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has cancelled the air pollution health alert for Rochester and the Twin Cities.

A less severe air pollution health advisory remains in effect for the Twin Cities metro area through Wednesday.

The MPCA has also cancelled the air pollution health advisory for the southern two-thirds of Minnesota, including Duluth, Detroit Lakes, Brainerd and Marshall.

The MPCA issues an air pollution health alert when the amount of fine pollution particles in the air reaches a level considered unhealthy for certain groups.

Those groups include people with respiratory or cardiovascular problems, young children, the elderly, and people who participate in activities that require heavy exertion.

The MPCA cautions that even individuals who are otherwise healthy may experience health problems when air pollution increases.

Officials have urged residents to reduce or postpone activities that lead to deep or accelerated breathing, as fine pollution particles can be inhaled deeply into the lungs.

Exposure to high levels of fine particles may cause chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing and fatigue, even after air quality has improved.

Officials have urged residents to help reduce air pollution by carpooling, using public transportation, and avoiding car idling.

During poor air-quality times, the MPCA also recommends that people postpone burning wood and reduce their energy consumption.

MPCA officials say that increased wind speeds and reduced fog have led to decreased pollution levels across the state. Officials say they expect air quality to return to good conditions by Thursday, as wind speeds increase and shift to the north.

Hourly air quality updates are available at the MPCA's Air Quality Index Web site.