Maine nears record for smoggy days

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State nears record for smoggy days

The Associated Press

PORTLAND - Maine has experienced more smoggy days this summer than in any

period since 1995 and likely will break the state record, the Environmental

Protection Agency reported.

On Thursday, ozone levels reached an unhealthful level in southern and

midcoast Maine for the 12th day this summer, the EPA said.

In 2000, only three days were deemed unhealthful ozone days.

On Friday, intense heat forced the temporary closure of the visitors center

at Acadia National Park. The outside temperature was 90 degrees but the

apparent temperature inside was 107, according to Betty Lyle, the visitors

center supervisor. The apparent temperature is a combination of the relative

humidity and the air temperature, she said. The center lacks air

conditioning.

Ozone was a problem in much of the state.

Ground-level ozone, or smog, is a colorless gas that forms when chemicals

found in motor vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions combine in the heat

of summer.

Although ozone in the Earth's upper atmosphere protects against the sun's

ultraviolet rays, high ground-level ozone concentrations are considered

unhealthful. Smog makes breathing hard for people with asthma and other

respiratory conditions.

" If we continue to get hot weather from the south and west, chances are we'

ll have more ozone smog days, " said Judy Berk, spokesperson for the Natural

Resources Council of Maine.

The EPA said even healthy people are at risk of lung damage and other

problems when ozone levels are high.

In addition to heat, air currents that bring polluted air from the Midwest

make Maine and the rest of New England the " tailpipe of the nation in terms

of high pollution, " Berk said.

The high ozone levels are just one anomaly in a summer of strange weather

patterns.

June 2001 was the warmest June in about 130 years, despite nights that

dipped as low as 41 degrees.

Meanwhile, July average temperatures were below normal, although on seven

days temperatures soared to the 90s. Many days saw both bright sunshine and

rain.

Water temperatures have been lower than usual for about three weeks due to

south-southwest winds, and a riptide Wednesday caused dangerous conditions

along beaches in Cumberland and York counties.