— PRESS RELEASE —

For Immediate Release

Maine DEP Kicks Off Air Quality Awareness Week

Augusta, April 27, 2018—

Maine joins states across the nation in recognizing April 30 through May 4 as Air Quality Awareness Week. This year’s theme is “Air Quality Where You Are”.

Maine DEP forecasts Ozone and Particle Pollution year-round. This information 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 comes from direct emissions or 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
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

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