DEP issues air quality alert

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection said Monday that ground-level ozone concentrations in Maine are expected to reach the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” level today for the southwest coast, midcoast and western and eastern interiors, while “unhealthy” levels are expected for the high elevations of Acadia National Park.

The DEP said everyone in the coastal regions – not just sensitive groups – should take precautions because those areas are likely to record higher levels of ozone than the interior regions.

The agency said ozone levels likely will reach the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” level again Wednesday.

At high ozone levels, children, healthy adults and individuals suffering from a respiratory disease such as asthma “can experience reduced lung function and irritation,” the DEP noted.

The agency recommended that individuals take various precautions to protect their health during the ozone alert, including avoiding strenuous activity, closing windows (and using fans and air conditioners instead), and avoiding aerosol products.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently revised the national ozone standard from 84 parts per billion to 75 ppb, meaning the standards are more conservative now.

For more information, call the DEP’s toll-free ozone hot line at 800-223-1196, or visit www.MaineDEP.com.