Outdoor Air Quality

Measured emissions of several toxic substances are high in Bucksport.

More than 80% of Hancock County’s measured emissions are produced in Bucksport.

In two categories, nitrous oxide and sulfur dioxide, Bucksport produces more than 5% of the State’s total measured emissions.

Small businesses, homes, cars and pollution drifting from other states add to the likely exposure of Bucksport and surrounding community residents to toxic emissions.

Source: Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Maine Criteria Air Pollutant Report, 1992

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Notes:

Outdoor Air Quality
Bucksport is not typical of Hancock County. Five out of 14 licensed emitters are located in Bucksport, but they produce very nearly all of the measured stack emissions from registered sites for the entire county. These sources produce 6% of of the State’s measured sulfur dioxide emissions, associated with acid rain, and 7% of the states nitrous oxide emissions, which are associated with smog and ozone depletion.
Pollutants (tons per year by type)
Town County State
Licensed Emitters 5 14 371
Carbon Monoxide 526 529 18,377
Nitrous Oxide 2,015 2,040 27,741
Particulate 42 49 10,678
Sulfur Dioxide 2,993 3,087 54,268
Volatile Organics 290 290 11,167
Lead - - 16

Source: Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Maine Criteria Air Pollutant Report, 1992
However, there are also significant unmeasured and non-point sources of pollution, particularly home heating, automobiles and interstate pollution, that are not included in these numbers.