In February, I sat on a panel with Sen. Susan Collins at an event hosted by the American Lung Association, Maine Conservation Alliance, the University of New England and MaineHealth. I had the opportunity to talk about my time as a division director for Maine’s Air Bureau, measuring and analyzing air quality.
I told Collins that, through the years, we have seen our air get cleaner and cleaner due to the Clean Air Act. But now we have the threat of climate change and carbon pollution, and our panel discussion with the senator focused on the health impacts of a warming climate. Climate change and carbon pollution both contribute to a host of problems, including worsening or exacerbating ozone pollution.
In the American Lung Association’s 2015 State of the Air report, we have seen ozone problems in southern and coastal Maine time and again. This year, York County received a failing grade of “F” on the report, indicating there are too many days where ozone levels are unhealthy.
The current standard doesn’t adequately reflect how many unhealthy air days there really are. If the standard were lowered, even by 10 parts-per-billion, the grades for Maine would be dramatically worse, with nearly three times as many unhealthy ozone days.
The Environmental Protection Agency needs to set a more protective ozone standard so we aren’t lulled into a false sense of security, especially as the climate continues to change.
Recent cool summers kept ozone low; warmer summer weather will increase health problems.
John Chandler, Auburn
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