PORTLAND (AP) – While most of Maine’s air pollutants drift in from outside the state, officials say regulatory measures can address smaller sources of home-grown smog.

Controlling emissions from consumer products such as bug spray and deodorant, for example, can save two tons of volatile organic compound emissions per day. Requiring that all gas cans have spill-proof spouts can eliminate up to five tons of emissions per day.

Volatile organic compounds help create ozone pollution, or smog. Mainers learned Thursday that coastal communities from Kittery to Winterport violate a new federal smog standard. Southern Maine has until 2007 to clear its air, and eastern counties face a 2009 deadline.

The gas can-and-bug spray strategy was developed by the Ozone Transport Commission, a coalition of states from Maine to Virginia that work together to combat ozone pollution.

The commission came up with six environmental regulations that, taken together, could help Maine eliminate an estimated 14 tons of emissions per day, statewide. That reduction is similar to what the state would get from using reformulated gas or an automobile emissions-testing program, said Jeff Crawford of the Bureau of Air Quality.

Most of the rules are designed to switch consumers and businesses to low-volatility products that do not allow volatile organic compounds to evaporate as quickly into the atmosphere.

The gas can rule was approved by the Board of Environmental Protection last year. A rule requiring auto body shops to use low-volatility paints and high-pressure paint guns, which can save the state a ton of emissions per day, was adopted April 1.

Other rules the Department of Environmental Protection hopes to implement this year target consumer products, architectural and industrial maintenance coatings, and solvent cleaners or degreasers.

AP-ES-04-17-04 1207EDT