 Air
Quality
Although many air pollutants are invisible, they can seriously impact
our health, the environment, and our quality of life. Air pollutants
may cause respiratory diseases, cancer and other health effects. Pollutants
also may create odors and smog, diminish the protective ozone
layer, and contribute to other environmental problems, such as acid rain
and global climate change. The air inside homes, schools, and other buildings
also may contain pollutants that enter from outdoors and those generated
indoors. Mold, radon, tobacco smoke, carbon monoxide, and chemical emissions
from products and furnishings are some of the important pollutants that
may be present in our homes and other indoor environments.
Finding solutions to these and other air pollution problems isn't always
easy, and requires agencies, environmental organizations, industry, and
the public to work together. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)
works closely with government agencies, the public, and others who are
concerned about air quality to:
- Provide consultation, trainings, and presentations to schools, local
health agencies, regulated parties, and others regarding a variety
of air quality issues;
- Enforce the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act, which regulates smoking
in indoor public places;
- Encourage testing and reduction of radon in homes, through educational
efforts and the management of federal radon grant money;
- Conduct site-specific assessments of health risks from air pollutants
emitted by industries, hazardous waste sites, feedlots, and other pollution
sources;
- Evaluate the effects of air pollution on vulnerable populations,
such as children and people with respiratory diseases so that risk
assessment methods are adequately protective of human health;
- Develop Health-Based Guidance for use
in site-specific assessments and air permit reviews;
- Track research about the health effects of air pollutants on an ongoing
basis, and incorporate new methods and data into health risk assessments
and best practices guidelines;
- Reduce mercury air emissions as part of the Fish
Consumption Advisory Program.
For more information about air quality, read our
MDH internet resources and other recommended resources, and then contact
us if you have further questions. For information about air quality
in Minnesota and monitoring and regulating outdoor air pollution, see
the Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency.
Go to > top.
For questions about this page or contact information, please refer to our Air Quality Contact Us page.
|
