According to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Minnesota has no counties that violate the EPA's stricter fine particle pollution standards, according to a news release from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The EPA established the stricter standards in 2006.

"We are pleased with the findings overall and we know that, by most measures, Minnesota's air quality is improving," said David Thornton, assistant commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, in the news release.

Minnesotans can help reduce fine particle pollution by decreasing electricity use, unnecessary driving and idling, and wood fires, especially during air pollution health alerts.

To see current air-quality readings or to sign up for air quality forecasts, go to http://aqi.pca.state.mn.us/ on the Internet.