Ground-level ozone concentrations are expected to reach the ‘Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups’ (USG) level according to Air Quality Meteorologists at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. 

Ozone is expected to reach USG levels along the coast from Kittery through Acadia National Park on both Wednesday and Thursday, according to the Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection.

The Downeast Coastal, Western Interior, and Eastern Interior regions are expected to reach Moderate levels. Ozone has been building over the Mid-Atlantic region on Tuesday, with this airmass projected to move over Southern New England and into Maine on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Particle Pollution is expected to be Moderate statewide on Wednesday due to wildfire smoke entering the region.

On Thursday, weather conditions are expected to remain consistent, and currently, Air Quality Forecasters are not expecting pollutants to move out of the Maine area. USG levels of ozone are expected for the Southwest and Mid-Coastal regions with the Downeast Coast, Western Interior, and Eastern Interior remaining Moderate.

For particle pollution, the entire state of Maine is expected to remain in the Moderate range since smoke can be slow to clean out. However, please check the website Thursday morning for the finalized forecast.

At elevated ozone levels, children, the elderly and individuals suffering from respiratory or heart diseases such as asthma, bronchitis or COPD can experience reduced lung function and irritation.  In addition, healthy adults who exert themselves outdoors may also notice these health effects.  Affected individuals may notice symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, throat irritation and/or experience mild chest pain.

Some actions you can take to protect your health during such periods of include:

• Avoiding strenuous outdoor activity
• Closing windows and circulating indoor air with a fan or air conditioner
• Asthmatics should keep their quick-relief medications and action plan handy

Additional health information may be found on the following websites:

• Maine CDC asthma prevention and control
• USEPA's asthma control and management: www.epa.gov/asthma
• AIRNOW for smoke impacted areas: https://www.airnow.gov/air-quality-and-health/fires-and-your-health/ 

In addition to those in a sensitive group, others who are responsible for the welfare of people impacted by poor air quality are urged to use one of the listed tools to follow the Air Quality Forecast:

• Maine DEP’s Air Quality Forecast: maine.gov/dep/air/aqforecast
• Maine DEP's Air Quality Hotline: 1-800-223-1196
• USEPA’s EnviroFlash email and text alert system: http://www.maine.gov/dep/air/ozone/enviroflash.html
• USEPA’s AIRNOW Fire and Smoke Map: https://fire.airnow.gov/
• USEPA’s AIRNOW Mobile App: https://www.airnow.gov/airnow-mobile-app/
• Governor Mills' “Wildfires and Air Quality” Online Resource: https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/wildfires

For more information go to Maine DEP’s air quality web site www.maine.gov/dep/air/aqforecast.