Air
Quality
Index
AQI
AQI
Category
Recommendation
201 – 300
Very unhealthy
for all
Everyone should
avoid all
exertion
151 – 200
Unhealthy for
most people
Everyone should
avoid/limit
exertion
101 - 150
Unhealthy for sensitive
groups (those with respiratory or
Sensitive groups
should limit
prolonged exertion
heart conditions, athletes, children)
51- 100
Moderate,
acceptable
Unusually sensitive
people may
limit exertion
0 – 50
Good,
satisfactory
No health effects
expected
AQI and forecasts
651-297-1630
http://aqi.pca.state.mn.us
T
he AQI tells us when
the air is unhealthy to
breathe. An AQI of 101
to 150 is “unhealthy for
sensitive groups,” meaning
older adults, people with
heart and lung conditions
(including asthma), and
even healthy athletes and
children. The AQI in
Minnesota rarely rises
above 150.
In Minnesota, two air
pollutants cause concern:
When the AQI goes up
Protect yourself:
Ozone (smog) forms
through a chemical
reaction involving hot
sunshine and chemicals
emitted from vehicles,
power plants and industry.
Ozone is a summer
problem in Minnesota.
Ozone causes shortness
of breath, coughing, eye
irritation, and aggravates
asthma.
Take it easy, especially if you have heart or lung
disease. Even if you are not in the “sensitive”
category, reduce or postpone activities that lead
to deep breathing.
Fine particles are so
tiny that it would take
50-100 of them to equal
the width of a human hair!
Fine particles come from
cars and trucks, power
plants and industry, and
even fires. Fine particle
pollution is linked to both
heart and lung problems,
and may even lead to
premature death in people
with cardiovascular or
respiratory disease.
4. Postpone indoor and outdoor recreational fires.
Reduce air pollution:
1. Limit driving — share a ride to work and
postpone errands to the next day.
2. Refuel your vehicle after 8 p.m., when there’s
less evaporation into the air.
3. Postpone using other gasoline-powered engines
like garden and recreational equipment.
5. To reduce demand on power plants, turn off as
many electric items as possible.
To sign up for e-mail air pollution alerts or learn
more about the AQI in the Twin Cities and other
Minnesota cities, go to:
http://aqi.pca.state.mn.us
7/06