Ground-level ozone concentrations will be climbing in Maine today, Aug. 17, and are expected to reach unhealthy levels, according to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.  Unhealthy levels of ozone are expected to continue for Tuesday and possibly into Wednesday. 

The DEP is blaming air emissions transported from states to the southeast of Maine.  

Today, the unhealthy levels of ozone will be confined to the Southwest coastal region of Maine with moderate levels of ozone expected for the western interior and Midcoast.

At elevated ozone levels, children, healthy adults who exert themselves, and individuals suffering from a respiratory disease such as asthma, bronchitis or chronic lung disease can experience reduced lung function and irritation, resulting in shortness of breath, coughing, throat irritation, and/or experience an uncomfortable sensation in their chest.

In addition to those in a sensitive group, sports coaches, elder care workers, nurses and others who are responsible for the welfare of people affected by poor air quality are urged to use one of the listed tools to follow the Air Quality Forecast:

maine.gov/dep/air/ozone which has links to EnviroFlash

EPA's email and text alert system maine.gov/dep/air/ozone/enviroflash.html 

Twitter, for sign up information go to maine.gov/dep/air/ozone/twitter.html 

EPA's mobile app is available at: http://m.epa.gov/apps/airnow.html 

DEP's toll free air quality hotline is 1-800-223-1196 

Particle pollution levels will reach the moderate range for the southwest corner of Maine on Monday and likely extend statewide on Tuesday, the DEP said. Visit the DEP's Air Quality Forecast page for Wednesday's updated forecast after 3 p.m. Tuesday. 

High elevations are forecasted for Acadia National Park and Downeast.

Early indications for Tuesday are that ozone levels will be unhealthy for the Southwest, Midcoast and, again, high elevations for Acadia National Park on Mt. Desert.

Consult the Maine Center for Disease Control website for information on the health impacts of extreme heat and appropriate actions to take:

The Maine CDC Asthma Prevention and Control Program has asthma information available at its site.

For more information on asthma control visit EPA's Web site epa.gov/asthma to find information about asthma triggers and lessons on asthma management.