* WHAT...THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY HAS ISSUED AN AIRQUALITY ALERT FOR OZONE POLLUTION. THE AIR QUALITY INDEX (AQI) IS EXPECTED TO REACH THE ORANGE OR UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS CATEGORY.

* WHERE...EAST CENTRAL AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

* WHEN...FROM NOON CDT TO 9 PM CDT TUESDAY.

* IMPACTS...SENSITIVE GROUPS, SUCH AS PEOPLE WITH LUNG DISEASE (INCLUDING ASTHMA), HEART DISEASE, CHILDREN AND OLDER ADULTS, AND PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTIVE OUTDOORS, MAY EXPERIENCE HEALTH EFFECTS.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...GROUND-LEVEL OZONE IS EXPECTED TO BE HIGH ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON IN THE TWIN CITIES METRO AREA AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA. MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES, WARM TEMPERATURES, AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL PROVIDE A FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR TWO TYPES OF POLLUTANTS (VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS AND NITROGEN OXIDES) TO REACT WITH SUNLIGHT IN THE AIR TO PRODUCE GROUND-LEVEL OZONE. OZONE IS EXPECTED TO REACH UNHEALTHY LEVELS DURING THE AFTERNOON AND WILL SUBSIDE IN THE EARLY EVENING.