Air Quality and You

Take a deep breath. What did you just breathe in? Air of course. Although we don't think about it most of the time, we continuously inhale and exhale lots of different molecules-mostly nitrogen and oxygen (the stuff we NEED). However, there are a bunch of other compounds floating around out there that we can neither see nor smell. Some are natural and harmless, but many others are man-made pollutants that can harm our health and damage the environment.

Read on to find out more about air pollution sources and solutions and what you can do to help clear the air.

Energy Many air quality problems relate directly to energy production/use. Learn about programs and technologies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Open Burning What can I burn? When/where can I burn? How do I get a permit?

Spill-Proof Gas Cans Protect air, water, your health and your children from harmful gas fumes and spills.

High Performance Schools Daylighting, insulation, programmable thermostats, alternative fuel school buses, solar panels -- thee are just a few of the building blocks of a high performance school.

In Our Backyard-Air Quality Columns Read columns related to air quality topics from Maine DEP's weekly environmental column.

Healthy Communities Learn where you can access data on your communities and how that can help to better plan for the future.

Indoor Air Quality Visit the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council's website to find information and links on indoor air.

Wood Stove Emissions Many of the particulates contained in wood smoke are small enough to penetrate deeply into the lungs, and from there into the bloodstream.

Other Issues
Ozone
Acid Rain
Haze
Climate Change
Air Toxics
Transportation

Public Outreach and Education

Air Quality and You