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Outdoor Air Quality Position Statement

Goal

The air we breathe will not cause or worsen lung disease.

Position

The American Lung Association of Maine supports an approach towards the continual improvement of the outdoor air that focuses on pollution prevention. We support strategies that:

Consider the available knowledge base; where the knowledge base is inadequate, we should err on the side of caution, and promote research proposals that address these knowledge gaps;
Consider the comparative risks and benefits of alternative measures to improve outdoor air quality;
Consider a comprehensive set of intervention tools, which would include 1) increasing the knowledge base (monitoring/research), 2) education, 3) policy development, 4) enforcement, and 5) litigation when necessary;
Consider air pollution problems in their appropriate geographical context.
Ensure that pollution prevention strategies based on energy conservation not compromise the healthfulness of the indoor environment;

Rationale

Poor air quality affects everyone but we are especially concerned about over 100,000 Maine children and adults with lung disease. Despite years of effort and some improvements, air pollution still clogs our nation's skies.

Though we like to think Maine air is pristine, air pollution blows in from other states and in-state pollutants contribute further to the problem.

Millions of tons of harmful gasses and particles are released into the air each year. Some of the most common outdoor air pollutants of concern are:

Fine particles and ozone;
Pollutant mixtures, such as diesel fuel, wood smoke and forest fires.
Molds, pollens, and strong odors receive relatively little regulatory attention but are significant outdoor air quality concerns for asthma and allergy suffers.

Outdoor air pollution problems vary in their scope and complexity. Effective interventions may require coordination at the regional, national, or even international levels.

ALA-ME Board Approved December 11, 2002