The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is issuing an air quality watch for 26 counties in the area of the state generally south and east of a line from Green Bay to Wisconsin Dells effective Wednesday, November 8, 2006. The counties covered by this watch are Sauk, Columbia, Marquette, Green Lake, Winnebago, Calumet, Outagamie, Brown, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, Dodge, Washington , Ozaukee, Iowa, Dane, Jefferson, Waukesha, Milwaukee, Lafayette, Green, Rock, Walworth, Racine and Kenosha.
The watch is being issued because of the forecast for elevated levels of fine particles in the air. Fine particle pollution is composed of microscopic dust, soot, liquid droplets and smoke particles that are 2.5 microns or smaller. 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 a stagnant and increasingly dirty air mass over the Lake Michigan region.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is forecast to reach 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 watch is issued, people in those groups are advised to reschedule or cut back on strenuous activities during the watch period.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. 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.
For current air quality readings in your area, call the Daily Air Hotline at: 1-866-DAILY AIR (1-866-324-5924).
