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Report: Particle Pollution Down in Maine, Ozone up in Some Areas

AUGUSTA, Maine - There's good news and bad news today about the cleanliness of Maine's air.  A new report released by the American Lung Association indicates that, overall, there's less particle pollution in Maine's air. But some communities continue to grapple with ozone pollution.

In its 16th annual State of the Air report, the American Lung Association says Bangor, which is in Penobscot County, has once again ranked near the top in the nation for its low particle pollution. Particle pollution is made up of tiny particles from car exhaust, wood fires, coal burning power plants and other sources.

Gains in combating particle pollution have been made statewide, the report indicates. But when it comes to ozone pollution in Maine, it's a different story. In southern Maine's York County, for example, ozone pollution got worse, dropping the county's clean air grade to an "F."

Ozone - or smog - is created when warm air and sunlight hit emissions from vehicles and other pollution sources.  The pollutant irritates the lungs and can cause wheezing, coughing, asthma attacks and sometimes death.

York County recorded unhealthy ozone levels on 10 days in the three-year reporting period.  Ozone was also a problem in some other locations: Cumberland County experienced six days of unhealthy ozone levels, Knox County had four, and Hancock County registered three.