Wildfire Smoke Guidelines

With the Air Quality Index (AQI) in many parts of Minnesota hovering in unhealthy ranges due to the prevalence of fine particulate matter produced by wildfires, the University of Minnesota is urging all students, faculty, staff, and visitors on its campuses to monitor local conditions and follow health guidelines from state and federal agencies.

Wildfire smoke and ground level ozone may affect the quality of the outdoor air creating health concerns for individuals at risk and depending on severity, all individuals. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency provides up to date information on outdoor air quality alerts in the state of MN. Workers in locations outside of Minnesota can receive air quality alert information from the EPA’s Air Now website.  

The Environmental Protection Agency’s AQI measures the amount of pollution in the air on a scale of 0 (least hazardous) to 500 (most hazardous), and tracks the following five pollutants: fine particles, ground-level ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide. The most relevant pollutants of concern in Minnesota are fine particles and ground-level ozone. The AQI categories for fine particles and ground-level ozone pollution include:

Figure: Air Quality Index Levels for Fine Particles and Ground-Level Ozone

Air Quality Index	Description of Air Quality
Good  (0-50)	Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
Moderate  (51-100)	Air quality is acceptable. However, there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups  (101-150)	Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected.
Unhealthy  (151-200)	Some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
Very Unhealthy  (201-300)	Health alert: The risk of health effects is increased for everyone.
Hazardous  (301-500)	Health warning of emergency conditions: everyone is more likely to be affected.

Campus and Building Closing Administrative Policy

The University Campus and Building Closing Policy (see Weather Thresholds Appendix) states that multiple factors are considered when determining the appropriate actions to take when the AQI is poor. When the AQI is Very Unhealthy (201-300) or Hazardous (301-500), the campus will consider the need to alter campus operations, which could include reducing or cancelling outdoor activities, moving to reduced operations, or recommending additional protective measures.

Monitoring Conditions

The University will use the Minnesota Pollution Control’s air quality rating tool, air quality index (AQI) as the guidepost for decisions related to air quality. Health, Safety, and Risk Management (HSRM) is responsible for monitoring air quality and notifying campus leadership when altering campus operations shall be considered.

University Actions Taken

AQI of Good (0-50): No recommended changes to University operations.

AQI of Moderate (51-100): No recommended changes to University operations.

AQI of Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150): HSRM will send an email to campus stakeholders. The email will include the MPCA’s air quality message that discusses health effects, precautionary measures, and pollution reduction tips. 

AQI of Unhealthy (151-200):

• HSRM will send an email to campus stakeholders . The email will include the MPCA’s air quality message that discusses health effects, precautionary measures, and pollution reduction tips.
  • Limit outdoor work and prolonged heavy exertion if possible. Consider reassigning employees who work outdoors for more than one hour or provide an N95 respirator for voluntary use.
  • Consider canceling or moving outdoor classes indoors.
  • Shorten/modify outdoor recreational activity to limit prolonged or heavy exertion.
  • Consider cancellation of more intense outdoor athletic activities or move indoors.

AQI of Very Unhealthy (201-300):

• HSRM will send an email to campus stakeholders and campus leadership, which prompts a decision on whether campus operations should be altered or not (see considerations below).
• University leadership will respond with a message to the entire affected community. A SAFE-U alert should be sent out if the decision is made to alter/reduce operations. Any message sent by leadership should focus on campus operations as well as:
  • Limit outdoor work. If outdoor work is absolutely necessary, provide N95 respirators for voluntary use.
  • Cancel or move all outdoor classes indoors.
  • Cancel or move all outdoor recreational activities indoors.
  • Cancel or move all outdoor athletic activities indoors.
  • Include the HSRM Wildfire Air Quality Advisory webpage.

AQI of Hazardous (301-500):

• HSRM will send an email to campus stakeholders and campus leadership, which prompts a decision on whether campus operations should be altered or not (see considerations below). 
• University leadership will respond with a message to the entire affected community. A Safe-U should be sent out if the decision is made to alter/reduce operations. Any message sent by leadership should focus on campus operations as well as:
  • Suspend outdoor work. If outdoor work is absolutely necessary, provide N95 respirators for use.
  • Cancel or move all outdoor classes indoors.
  • Cancel or move all outdoor recreational activities indoors.
  • Cancel or move all outdoor athletic activities indoors.
  • Reduce campus operations to the extent possible.
  • Include the HSRM Wildfire Air Quality Advisory webpage.

Considerations:

• Location.
• Time of year and day are all factors
• Duration of AQI (i.e., expected to last few hours or days)
• Largest groups affected (i.e., students, faculty, staff, public)
• Events affected (i.e., athletic events, student events, etc.)
• What are neighbors planning to do (i.e., city, public events, athletic events, public schools, etc.)?