http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.national
Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is issuing an air quality health advisory for Milwaukee and Waukesha counties effective immediately today, Thursday, December 8, 2005 until noon on Friday, December 9, 2005. The advisory is being issued because of persistent elevated levels of fine particles in the air. These fine particles come primarily from combustion sources, such as power plants, factories and other industrial sources, vehicle exhaust, and outdoor fires. Current weather conditions leading to this advisory are light winds and warmer air aloft, trapping the particle pollution near the ground. Air quality is expected to gradually improve for the affected area beginning tomorrow morning.
The Air Quality Index is currently in the orange level, which is considered unhealthy for people in sensitive groups and others, including people who are not in sensitive groups but who are engaged in strenuous activities or exposed for prolonged periods of time. People in those sensitive groups include those with heart or lung disease, asthma, older adults and children. When an air quality health advisory is issued, people in those groups are advised to reschedule or cut back on strenuous activities.
People with lung diseases such as asthma and 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. To receive air quality health advisories by e-mail, visit http://dnr.wi.gov/org/aw/air/health/listse"
Contacts: Larry Bruss, DNR (608)267-7543
Henry Anderson, DHFS (608) 266-1253
