Poor air quality: What causes it and how to protect your health

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about how smoke from Canadian wildfires could continue to affect our air quality this summer and what we can do to stay healthy when skies are smoky.

Guests:

• Jessie Carr is the supervisor of environmental epidemiology in the environmental health division of the Minnesota Department of Health.
• Matt Taraldsen is a meteorologist and supervisor of the team that issues air quality conditions, alerts and forecasts at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
• Dr. Dylan Wyatt is an emergency medicine physician with Aspirus St. Luke’s health care system in Duluth.

AirNow.gov allows you to check current air quality conditions. You can also download the AirNow mobile app and sign up to receive air quality alerts and forecasts via email.

MPCA current air quality conditions: Current air quality conditions | Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (state.mn.us)

MDH air quality and health website: Air Quality, Climate and Health

MDH Wildfire Smoke web page: Wildfire Smoke - MN Dept. of Health (state.mn.us)

Minnesota Outdoor Air Quality Guidance for Schools and Child Care

DIY Air Cleaner to Reduce Wildfire Smoke Indoors