Traffic emissions in Dublin exceed EU limit

TOXIC EMISSIONS from traffic exceeded the recommended limit at a monitoring station in Dublin city centre last year for the first time, an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) survey shows.

The Air Quality in Ireland 2009report found that while air quality across the Republic was "generally good" and complied with EU standards, there remained a "concern" about the level of vehicle-generated emissions in Dublin and Cork.

The report said nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels, which are strongly associated with traffic pollution, were high in Dublin and Cork city centres and exceeded the recommended EU limit of 40 microgrammes per cubic metre at one monitoring station at Winetavern Street, Dublin.

Agency programme manager Dr Micheál Lehane warned the increased levels of NO2 observed in Dublin and Cork showed the need to reduce the environmental impact of traffic. “Vehicle emissions technology has undoubtedly decreased the impact of individual vehicles, but any benefits have been offset by an increase in the number of vehicles,” he said.

Despite a sharp downturn in car sales and a fall-off in employment last year, there was more traffic on the city’s roads, according to Dublin City Council. A spokesman said the annual cordon count, counting vehicles crossing the canal ring into the city centre, was to get under way this month. It was unclear whether traffic volumes would be down for 2010.

In its report, the EPA urged the four Dublin local authorities to fast-track plans to address the rising levels of NO2 in the city.

Meanwhile, the agency’s report said air quality in smaller towns was most affected by pollution from particulate matter (PM10) through use of bituminous coal.

A ban on this smoky coal was introduced in Dublin in 1990 and has since been extended to other urban areas. The report said that because the ban was limited to urban areas, levels of particulate matter in smaller towns were in some cases worse than in cities.