The City’s Health Department recognizes National Air Quality Awareness Week by highlighting programs it uses to monitor local air quality and providing ways community members can help improve neighborhood air quality.
As the weather heats up and we spend more time outdoors, the air quality becomes an increasingly important factor in individual and community health.
Why air quality awareness matters
Air quality affects everyone, especially individuals living with asthma or other respiratory conditions. Exposure to air pollution can increase the risk of heart disease, allergies, and even cancer. Minnesota generally enjoys good air quality. However, some communities are disproportionately affected by air pollution, including lower-income communities and Black, Indigenous, and communities of color.
The community air monitoring project was launched to help improve air quality across the City. Health Department employees installed air sensors in neighborhoods most impacted by poor air quality. Air sensor installation and monitoring have taken place over the last four years.
- 2021: Green Zone community members identified areas of concern to place air sensors.
- 2022-2024: Sensors installed throughout the city:
- Focusing on environmental justice communities.
- Providing screening-level data about air toxins installed.
- Measuring air pollutants.
- 2022: Initial air sensors are installed in residents’ backyards, focusing on environmental justice communities.
- 2023: Additional sensors are installed on City-owned light poles, providing screening-level data about air toxics.
- 2024: Air sampling begins. A lab analyzes samples for detailed information about air toxics in areas of high pollution.
- Coming soon: The City’s goal is to place at least one air sensor in every neighborhood.
Learn more about the department’s air monitoring project and hosting an air sensor
Air quality monitoring dashboard
“This year the theme of Air Quality Awareness Week is 'Stay Air Aware,' emphasizing the importance of knowing and incorporating air quality information into daily life,” said Jenni Lansing, Senior Environmental Project Manager for the Minneapolis Health Department. “The community air monitoring project in Minneapolis provides residents with real-time information about air quality at a hyper-local level - where they live, work, and play. It allows them to make decisions to protect their health. While air quality in our region is generally good, we know there can be differences at the hyper-local level, creating inequities in the air we breathe. Since 2021, we have expanded our network of air sensors to provide more information about local air quality, allowing individuals to see the impacts of neighborhood-level pollution."
Recreational fires: Be a good neighbor
According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, residential wood burning accounts for 55% of the state’s fine particulate pollution, which can be inhaled and affect health. Recreational fires contribute to air pollution and are linked to health issues like strokes, heart attacks, and asthma. Remember to be Minnesota Nice.
- Limit fires.
- Let neighbors know when planning a fire.
- Skip fires on windy days and when smoke blows directly at a neighbor’s house.
- Be kind – don’t burn if your neighbor has health issues.
Recreational fire City ordinance
- Recreational fires are only allowed between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m.
- Keep fires small: Less than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high.
- Don’t burn during air pollution advisory days.
- Burn only untreated, unpainted, dry wood.
- Never burn cardboard boxes, trash, or debris.
- Keep a hose or fire extinguisher nearby.
- Watch our video for safety tips about recreational fires. The video is available in English, Hmong, Somali and Spanish.
Learn more about City regulations around recreational fires
Everyday sources of air pollution
- Idling vehicles: Vehicle exhaust is hazardous to health and has been linked to cancer, heart and lung disease, asthma, and allergies. In Minneapolis, idling is limited to 3 minutes (5 minutes for diesel trucks and buses) except in traffic.
- Vehicle idling:
- Wastes more gas every 10 seconds than restarting your car.
- Burns almost a gallon of gas every hour.
- Damages your engine and exhaust systems.
Gas-powered landscaping equipment contributes to climate change and is harmful to our health. Operating a gas-powered mower for just an hour can produce as much pollution as driving a new car 45 miles. Switching to electric-powered equipment helps reduce pollution.
Stay updated by following the Health Department’s social channels.