Air quality advisory includes River Falls
The Wisconsin DNR issued an air-quality advisory for particle pollution – a level orange alert, effective through at least 11 p.m. Thursday, March 11. The warning applies to 54 counties including all of Pierce and St. Croix.
The Wisconsin DNR issued an air-quality advisory for particle pollution – a level orange alert, effective through at least 11 p.m. Thursday, March 11. The warning applies to 54 counties including all of Pierce and St. Croix.
The DNR issues the advisory because of persistently elevated levels of fine particles in the air that originate from power plants, factories and other industrial sources, as well as vehicle exhaust and burning wood.
A level orange on the air quality index is considered unhealthy for people in sensitive groups like those with lung disease, asthma, older adults and children. When an orange advisory for particle pollution is issued, people in those groups are advised to reschedule or cut back on strenuous activities.
Fine particle pollution deposits itself deep into the lungs and cannot easily be exhaled. People who are at risk are particularly vulnerable after several days of high-particle pollution exposure.
People with asthma, bronchitis, and heart disease should pay attention to cardiac symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath or respiratory symptoms like coughing, wheezing and discomfort when taking a breath, and consult with their physician if they have concerns or are experiencing symptoms.
The DNR has issued other advisories this week because the fine particles are not dissipating as quickly as usual with the low-cloud weather pattern hanging over the state and because the rain has not been substantial enough to wash particles out of the air.
People can check for air quality alerts at the DNR's web site: www.wi.dnr.gov/.
Tags: local news, health, wisconsin, outdoors
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