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What do These Maps Show?. To find out more click here. Good. Moderate. Unhealthy for sensitive groups. Unhealthy. Very Unhealthy. 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. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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What do These Maps Show?
To find out more click here
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)