April begins the annual ozone season in New England. Ozone is a serious health risk Even if you are not one of the 150,000 Maine people with asthma or other lung disease it can affect your health. The impact of high ozone levels can range from mild discomfort to emergency room visits and hospital stays. And the health care costs from lung disease alone create a multi-million dollar preventable burden on Maine’s health system. 

For years the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has failed to inform us about just how dangerously polluted our air really is. By their most recent action in early March, enacting a new ozone standard of 75 parts per billion, they blatantly ignored their own scientific advisors and will continue to give false assurances about our air quality. The EPA’s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee was unanimous in recommending a level as low as 60 parts per billion. 

The American Lung Association, American Medical Association, and fourteen other major medical societies and health organizations have repeatedly urged the EPA to follow the overwhelming scientific evidence and protect the public health by recommending an ozone standard of 60 parts per billion. In short, follow the advice of their own expert advisors.

What does this mean for us in Maine? Last year using the EPA’s “new” standard of 75 parts per billion, 14 days were deemed to be unhealthful. If the American Lung Association supported standard of 60 parts per billion had been applied, 41 days would have been declared unhealthful. The implications are serious. The air we are breathing is NOT as healthy as the EPA would lead us to believe.

Next month we will be launching a new website where you will be able to get the truth about how healthy the air is that you and your family are breathing. 

Your continued support allows us to assure the air we breathe does not cause or worsen lung disease.

Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

Edward F. Miller

Chief Executive Officer