Wildfire smoke prompts air quality alert for northern Minn.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an air quality alert for northern Minnesota due to wildfire smoke from Canada.

The alert took effect at 4 a.m. Tuesday, May 16, and runs until 4 p.m. The affected area includes the northern half of Minnesota, and the tribal nations of Grand Portage, Fond du Lac, Leech Lake, Red Lake and Mille Lacs.

Northerly winds will push the smoke from northern Alberta and Saskatchewan as far south as Hinckley and Alexandria by Tuesday afternoon. Air quality should improve across northeast Minnesota Tuesday afternoon, but smoke may linger across the northwestern portion of the state.

Fine particle levels are expected to reach the orange air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, across northern Minnesota. This area includes Ely, International Falls, Roseau, Duluth, Brainerd, Moorhead, and the tribal nations of Grand Portage, Fond du Lac, Leech Lake, Red Lake and Mille Lacs. In the orange area, sensitive groups should avoid prolonged time outdoors.

During the Tuesday, May 16, KAXE Morning Show, Bob “Tornado Bob” Conzemius talked about wildfire smoke and impacts. He reminded us of past summers when air quality was affected by wildfires in Canada, like the summer of 2021 with extended days of haze. It’s too soon to tell, but according to Conzemius, this may be an issue for the summer ahead. Listen to his conversation with Staff Phenologist John Latimer above.

What this alert means

Air moves long distances and carries pollutants. During air quality alerts due to wildfires, the air is mixed with harmful smoke. Wildfire smoke spreads or lingers depending on the size of the fires, the wind and the weather.

The AQI is color-coded. Air quality alerts are issued when the index is forecast to reach an unhealthy level, which includes forecasts in the orange, red, purple and maroon categories. For a full description of each air quality category, visit airnow.gov.

Orange air quality: Unhealthy for sensitive groups

• Sights and smells: In areas where air quality is in the orange AQI category due to wildfires, the sky may look hazy and residents may smell smoke even when wildfires are far away. 
• Health effects: This air is unhealthy for sensitive groups and pollution may aggravate heart and lung disease as well as cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. Symptoms may include chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and fatigue. 

• What to do: People in sensitive groups are encouraged to reduce outdoor physical activities, take more breaks, or do less intense activities to reduce their exposure. People with asthma should follow their asthma action plan and keep their rescue inhaler nearby.   

Who’s most at risk

Poor air quality impacts health. Fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke can irritate eyes, nose and throat, and cause coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness or fatigue.

Smoke particles are small enough that they can be breathed deeply into lungs and enter the bloodstream. This can lead to illnesses such as bronchitis or aggravate existing chronic heart and lung diseases, triggering heart palpitations, asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes.

Certain groups experience health effects from unhealthy air quality sooner than others, either because they are more sensitive to fine particle pollution or because they are exposed to larger amounts of it.

Sensitive groups include:

• People who have asthma or other breathing conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 
• People who have heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes 
• Pregnant people 

• Children and older adults 

People with increased exposure include:

• People of all ages who do longer or more vigorous physical activity outdoors 
• People who work outdoors, especially workers who do heavy manual labor 
• People who exercise or play sports outdoors, including children 
• People who don’t have air conditioning and need to keep windows open to stay cool 
• People in housing not tight enough to keep unhealthy air out, or who do not have permanent shelter. 

Anyone experiencing health effects related to poor air quality should contact their health care provider. Those with severe symptoms, chest pain, trouble breathing, or who fear they may be experiencing a heart attack or stroke should call 911 immediately.

Stay informed

• Visit MPCA’s Air Quality Index webpage for information on current air quality conditions in your area. 
• Sign up for daily air quality forecasts and alert notifications by email, text message, phone, or the Minnesota Air mobile app. 
• Visit the MPCA's Air quality and you webpage for information about health and indoor and outdoor air quality and how to prevent air pollution. 
• Visit the Minnesota Department of Health wildfire smoke webpage for actions you can take to protect your health against wildfire smoke.