This Web-based document was archived by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library.
Minnesota Milestones 2010: Air quality
 
 
How is Minnesota doing?
Keep an eye out for these images to quickly tell which way the trend is going:
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Undesirable or negative
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No change, or not enough data to draw conclusions
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Desirable or positive.
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Indicator 52: Air quality

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Goal: Minnesotans will improve the quality of the air, water and earth.
Rationale: Air quality in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, Minnesota's most urbanized region, is one indicator of the state's air quality.
About this indicator: Air quality in the Twin Cities is often not as good as it should be. Since 2003, the number of days classified as “moderate” air quality has fluctuated between 136 and 191. The number of days classified as “unhealthy” or “unhealthy for sensitive groups” (for example, people with asthma) has varied between 3 and 13. No clear trend is evident.
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Unhealthy for selective groups Air Quality Index days
YearData
Moderate Air Quality Index days, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Edit trend | Edit data
Unhealthy for selective groups Air Quality Index days, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Edit trend | Edit data
Moderate AQI days USG or unhealthy AQI days
2003191 13
2004172 7
2005191 8
2006169 3
2007178 9
2008166 5
2009136 12
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For comparison: Air quality standards have changed over time and become more rigorous. Data collected before 2003 was evaluated using older criteria and cannot be directly compared to the more recent values. The newer numbers use more stringent ozone standards and continuous monitoring of fine particles.
Sources:
Related 2002 Milestones indicator:
Local data:

Milestones is a product of the Minnesota State Demographic Center, a division of the Department of Administration