For Immediate Release

AUGUSTA, August 14, 2024 ? Ground-level particle pollution concentrations are expected to reach the ?Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups? (USG) level in the Northern Region for today and tomorrow according to Air Quality Meteorologists at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

Smoke began moving into Maine from the north on Tuesday.? Some hourly values were high in the Northern region Tuesday and are continuing to linger this morning.? Weather conditions are not likely to move the smoke out today or tomorrow.? As a result, we anticipate that the Northern region's 24-hour average for Wednesday and Thursday will fall within the USG range. Currently, we expect the remainder of the state to be in the Moderate range, but we will continue to monitor the situation.?

It can be challenging to predict smoke levels more than a day in advance. There are currently signs that it will persist past Thursday. At elevated levels of particle pollution, 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: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/population-health/mat/
• 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, call the contacts listed above or go to Maine DEP?s air quality web site www.maine.gov/dep/air/aqforecast.