Air Quality Awareness Week ? May 1-5, 2017
April 27, 2017
Contact: David Madore, Communications Director, david.madore@maine.gov or (207) 287-5842
Maine joins states across the nation in recognizing May 1 through May 5 as Air Quality Awareness Week. This year?s theme is "Be Air Aware".
Maine DEP forecasts Ozone and Particle Pollution year-round and is available on DEP?s website, via toll free hotline, EnviroFlash emails and text messages as well as on Twitter. Forecasts are issued using a color-based Air Quality Index created by EPA. Green ? good; Yellow ? moderate; orange ? unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive people and red ? unhealthy pollution levels for all.
Both Ozone and Particle Pollution impact the lungs and heart. Ozone is produced in sunlight from pollutants in the air while Particle Pollution consists of direct emissions of pollution in addition to being created by chemical reactions in a polluted air mass. Maine?s ozone season runs from late March to September while particle pollution levels are higher mostly during the summer and winter months.
Maine enjoys some of the best air quality in the nation with most air quality issues resulting from polluted air being transported into the state. DEP urges everyone to take steps to reduce emissions that contribute to the formation of ozone:
- Conserve electricity
- Choose a cleaner commute by carpooling or using public transportation where available
- Combine errands, reduce trips
- Defer the use of gas powered lawn and garden equipment until after dusk
- Limit idling
- Refuel vehicles after dusk
- Use environmentally friendly paints and cleaning products
For more information about Air Quality visit Maine DEP?s website at http://www.maine.gov/dep/air/index.html or follow air quality by region on Twitter at:
Acadia-MaineDEP https://twitter.com/MEair_Acadia
Portland-MaineDEP https://twitter.com/MEair_Portland
Lewiston-MaineDEP https://twitter.com/MEair_Lewiston
Bangor-MaineDEP https://twitter.com/MEair_Bangor