The Department of Natural Resources expanded an advisory that means the air could be unhealthy for certain people.

On Wednesday morning, the DNR issued the advisory for particle pollution until 9 a.m. Thursday. It affects Eau Claire, Dunn, and Chippewa Counties, along with several others in Western Wisconsin.

The agency says people with heart or lung disease, asthma, and older adults and children should cut back on vigorous activity.

DNR AIR QUALITY NOTICE:

•Air Quality Advisory for Particle Pollution (Orange)
Issued: 8:56 am Wednesday, March 10, 2010

The Wisconsin DNR has issued an Air Quality Advisory for Particle Pollution (Orange) effective 9:00 am Wednesday, March 10, 2010 through 9:00 am Thursday, March 11, 2010 for Adams, Barron, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond Du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago and Wood counties .

The advisory is being issued because of persistent elevated levels of fine particles in the air. These fine particles come primarily from combustion sources, such as power plants, factories and other industrial sources, vehicle exhaust, and wood burning.

The Air Quality Index is currently in or expected to soon be in the orange level, which is considered unhealthy for people in sensitive groups. People in those sensitive groups include those with heart or lung disease, asthma, older adults and children. When an orange advisory for particle pollution is issued, people in those groups are advised to reschedule or cut back on strenuous activities.

People with lung diseases such as asthma and bronchitis, and heart disease should pay attention to cardiac symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath or respiratory symptoms like coughing, wheezing and discomfort when taking a breath, and consult with their physician if they have concerns or are experiencing symptoms. Fine particle pollution deposits itself deep into the lungs and cannot easily be exhaled. People who are at risk are particularly vulnerable after several days of high particle pollution exposure.

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Story from Monday, March 8:

The DNR says it's tough to point to an exact cause for the excess pollution.

"If we have a forest fire, we can predict fairly accurately that there's going to be a watch or advisory," said Environmental Engineering Supervisor Jeffery Johnson.

It does say temperature inversions and air that isn't moving much is what likely keeps that soot, dust, and smoke hanging around. The DNR says it doesn't have the money to monitor the air in every county in the state, but it does have monitoring stations in Eau Claire, Saint Croix, and Taylor Counties.

That equipment shows that the conditions are right for that pollution to gather in Eau Claire, Dunn, and Chippewa Counties.

"It's difficult to tell what the forecast will predict," Johnson said. "I don't really know what's going to happen tomorrow."

Johnson says he just hopes that people don't become desensitized to news like this, which seems to pop up multiple times every year.

"It is something that should be taken seriously."

"Honestly, we see more patients with exasurbations related to viral infections, the flu," said Dr. Tony Kidess with Eau Claire Medical Clinic. He says people with lung or heart problems shouldn't be outside as much if they can help it.

"If they get short on breath, if they have chest pain or chest tightness, they need to contact their physician. Of course, in extreme cases, they need to go to the emergnecy room."

For now, the DNR will keep checking the air and the weather in hopes that wind takes away pollution and the health concerns that go with it.

To see which counties are affected by the DNR watches and advisories, click on the link below, or call 1-866-DAILY-AIR.

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Most of Wisconsin is under an air quality alert for particle pollution, which means some outdoor activities could be unhealthy for some people.

The Department of Natural Resources issued the alert for southeastern Wisconsin and much of the rest of the state. It runs through 11 p.m. Monday.

The state's air quality index is forecast to reach the orange level, which is considered unhealthy for people with heart or lung disease, asthma, older adults and children.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports people in these groups should reschedule or curtail strenuous activities during the watch period.

Fine particle pollution comes primarily from sources such as power plants, factories, vehicle exhaust and wood burning.

The counties that are affected include:: Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Waukesha, Washington, Racine and Kenosha, Adams, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond Du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marquette, Monroe, Outagamie, Pepin, Pierce, Portage, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago and Wood.