What do These Maps Show?

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Air Pollution

• The maps you just saw show ozone smog levels on two days last summer.

• This map shows the highest ozone levels recorded in 2001.

Good

Moderate

Unhealthy forsensitive groups

Unhealthy

Very Unhealthy

Where Did Acadia Go?

Keep clicking….

Air Pollution Reduces Visibility

• To learn more about ozone and fine particles, click the arrow in the corner.

Acadia National Park

A Clear Day vs A Hazy Day

Air Pollution:

• Has many effects on public health and the environment.

• Comes in different forms and from many sources.

• Ozone and Particulate matter are two types of Air Pollution that affect Maine.

What is Ozone?

• An odorless, colorless gas composed of three oxygen atoms.

• Ozone in the upper atmosphere protects us from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.

• At ground-level in the air we breathe, ozone (smog) poses serious risks to human health.

Ozone is created by a chemical reaction:

Where Does Ozone Come From?

O3+ =

VOC + NOx + Heat + Sunlight = Ozone

VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) come from motor vehicles,

power plants, industrial facilities, and other sources.

Why is Ozone Bad to Breathe?

• The average adult breathes enough air to fill over 3,000 balloons each day. Children breathe even more!

• Ozone can irritate lungs and airways, and cause inflammation much like a sunburn on your lungs.

• Ozone can aggravate respiratory illnesses like asthma.

• 10 to 20% of summertime respiratory-related hospital visits in the Northeast are associated with ozone pollution.

• Children and people with chronic lung diseases are particularly at risk.

Health Effects of Exposure to Ozone

• Coughing

• Nose and throat irritation

• Chest pain

• Reduced lung function

• Increased susceptibility to respiratory illnesses

• Aggravation of asthma

Air Quality Index (AQI) Values

Levels of Health Concern

151 to 200

201 to 300

301 to 500

Unhealthy

Very Unhealthy

Hazardous

0 to 50

51 to 100

101 to 150

Good

ModerateUnhealthy

for Sensitive Groups

The Air Quality Index

Hot temperatures… Sunny skies…

Unhealthy ozone levelsSouthwest winds…

What Makes a Bad Ozone Day

in New England?

Ozone Trends in Maine

Acadia National Park

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Nu

mb

er

of D

ays

Very Unhealthy Unhealthy Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Kennebunkport

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Nu

mb

er

of D

ays

Very Unhealthy Unhealthy Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Cape Elizabeth

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Nu

mb

er

of D

ays

Very Unhealthy Unhealthy Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Port Clyde

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

0

5

10

15

20

Nu

mb

er

of D

ays

Very Unhealthy Unhealthy Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Smog AlertNotification Areas

Interior CT

Southeastern MA

Coastal CT

Rhode Island

Western MA

Southern NH

Coastal ME

Central &Northeastern MA

• Notifies you by e‑mail or fax when ozone levels are predicted to be unhealthy in your area.

• Is available in most areas in New England.

• Is a free service.

• To receive Smog Alerts, register at (www.epa.gov/region01/oms)

Or contact Maine DEP’s Ozone Hotline at 1-800-223-1196 orwww.state.me.us/dep/air/ozone/

ozone.htm

Smog Alert Service

What is Particulate Matter?• particles of different substances suspended in the air• in the form of solid particles and liquid droplets• particles vary widely in size

Fine particles come from a variety of sources:• diesel trucks and buses• construction equipment• power plants • woodstoves• wildfires

Where does Pm come from?

Also, Chemical reactions in the atmosphere can transform gases into fine particles.

• Fine particles are only a fraction of the size of a human hair.

How Fine is Fine?

Fine Particles(2.5 m)

Cross section of a human hair (magnified to 60 m)

Coarse Particles(10 m)

Why are Fine ParticlesBad to Breathe?

• Scientific studies have linked fine particles with a series of significant health problems.

• Fine particles easily reach the deepest parts of the lungs.

• Particulate matter causes 15,000 premature deaths every year in the US.

• Fine particles from Diesel exhaust can cause lung cancer.

Health Effects of Exposure to Fine Particles

• Premature death

• Aggravated asthma

• Respiratory-related emergency room visits and hospital admissions

• Acute respiratory symptoms

• Chronic bronchitis

• Decreased lung function (shortness of breath)

• People with existing heart and lung disease, as well as the elderly and children, are particularly at risk

Reduce vehicle emissions:

Drive less

Keep cars well maintained and tires properly inflated

Turn off the engine when your vehicle is not in motion

Purchase low-emitting and fuel efficient vehicles

Share a ride, take public transportation bike, or walk

Cut your grass after 6 p.m.

Refuel your car after 6 p.m.

Combine errands into one trip

What Can You Do?

What Can You Do?

Conserve electricity:

do not over-cool or over-heat buildings

turn off lights and appliances when not in use

Purchase electronics/appliances with energy star labels

To protect your health, avoid strenuous outdoor activities

when ozone levels are high

This presentation was made possible by:

The United States Environmental Protection

Agency(www.epa.gov)

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection

(www.state.me.us/dep)