Air pollution alert issued for central, southern Minn.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air pollution health advisory for central and southern Minnesota Thursday, in effect through early evening.

Frank Kohlasch, manager of the MPCA's air assessment section, said fine particle pollutants are trapped over much of the state due to low clouds, fog and light winds.

Fine particles are produced by motor vehicle exhaust, gas-powered snowblowers and wood burning.

"They're sort of sitting in a bathtub and the drain is blocked right now," he said. "And so it will be blocked until late afternoon on Thursday and then once that weather pattern switches over, the winds will be able to move that air pollution and our pollution levels should go down."

The MPCA's advisory means the air is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children, the elderly and people with respiratory disease or pre-existing cardiovascular conditions. Even people who are otherwise healthy could experience difficulty breathing due to the increased pollution levels.