Air Quality Update

Friday 8/19/11

On July 19^th an Air Quality Alert was posted because fires in Ontario caused smoke to become elevated in Grand Portage. Smoke contains small particulates, and the monitor located at Trust Lands measures levels of particulates in the air on an hourly basis. Fires in Ontario are still burning and several new fires started this week; however, the air quality has been good to moderate, and fine particulates have not reached levels that could cause health effects in people. The Grand Portage Air Program will provide updates as long as the fires are still burning. If levels of particulates become elevated, another air quality alert will be posted.

Possible Health Effects from Fire Smoke

• Eye and throat irritation
• Respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath
• Aggravation of asthma and heart or lung disease

Precautions You Can Take to Limit Health Effects from Fire Smoke

• Everyone, especially children, the elderly and other sensitive individuals should avoid vigorous exercise outdoors.
• Avoid drawing smoky air indoors: use an air conditioner if you have one and keep it on the recycle/recirculate mode. If you are using a fan, place them away from a window, where they would draw in smoky air.

Monitor Grand Portage air quality: http://www.mwhazecam.net/grand.html

Look for updates on the Grand Portage Air Quality blog: http://gpairquality.blogspot.com/

Monitor air quality nationwide: http://www.airnow.gov/.

Fires in Ontario

The fires in Canada are still burning. Check out these maps to see where the fires are located. Smoke contains fine particles that are inhaled deep into the lungs, which can exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular disease. The level of particulates can increase in Grand Portage and Cook County due to the forest fires in Ontario, so please check the air quality daily, especially before exercising outdoors. High humidity can increase the levels of particulates and cause haze to worsen, and northern winds may draw the smoke down to Cook County.

Today we have been experiencing good to moderate air quality in Grand Portage, which means that health effects will not be experienced, except for those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.

Monitor the air quality at:

• MPCA
• Grand Portage Hazecam
  
• Air Now

Picture from Wilderness News Online

Grand Portage Hazecam

The hazecam is experiencing difficulties and may not be uploading images to the Midwest Hazecam website until further notice.

Air Quality Advisory

By yesterday afternoon at around 3:00 pm, the level of particulates in the air in Grand Portage decreased to a level that was safe for the general population to be outside. Currently, the air in Cook County is excellent due to the rain and winds that washed the particulates out of the air.

You can monitor Grand Portage air quality by visiting the Grand Portage hazecam website (the data is an hour or two behind) at: http://www.mwhazecam.net/grand.html. To monitor air quality nationwide, visit AirNow at: http://www.airnow.gov/.

Air Quality Advisory

Air Quality Advisory

Tuesday, 7/19/11

Fires in Canada are creating elevated levels of smoke and hazy conditions in Grand Portage. Smoke contains small particulates, and the monitor located at Trust Lands measures levels of particulates in the air on an hourly basis. The amount of these particulates in the air has spiked since 9:00 last night to levels that could have negative health impacts on young children, elders, and those with asthma or respiratory illness. Beginning at 2:00 AM today, the particulates reached a level where everyone may begin to experience health effects and sensitive individuals may experience serious health effects.

Possible Health Effects from Fire Smoke

· Eye and throat irritation

· Respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath

· Aggravation of asthma and heart or lung disease

Precautions You Can Take to Limit Health Effects

· Everyone, especially children, the elderly and other sensitive individuals should avoid vigorous exercise outdoors.

· Avoid drawing smoky air indoors: use an air conditioner if you have one and keep it on the recycle/recirculate mode. If you are using a fan, place them away from a window, where they would draw in smoky air.

Call Yvette at 475-2027 if you have any questions.

Grand Portage Hazecam

If you visit the Hazecam website, you have probably noticed that often either the Grand Portage data has not been showing up or that the fine particle count has been high. Right now the count is showing up as moderate (yellow).
For the past few years we have noticed a trend in the BAM 1020 data. In the morning during the summer, there is a spike in the fine particle count that is causing the data on the Hazecam website to be high. We are trying to find out whether these spikes are from flaws in data collection with the BAM or whether they are from an actual source that is emitting particles. We hope to have it figured out soon so that you can be sure of what you are seeing on the hazecam website. Normally, we have such great, clean air here, so we hope to let you know soon whether there is cause for concern. For the mean time, I will post on here and alert the clinic whenever we reach levels of particles that are hazardous to health. If you have any questions about this, give me a call at 475-2027.