Vehicle emissions and smoky coal are main threats to air quality

TRAFFIC AND smoky fuel are the two main factors adversely affecting air quality in Ireland, a survey by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found.

The Air Quality in Ireland 2008report found that air quality was good last year and complied with all the air quality standards in force across Europe for all pollutants.

Emissions from traffic were the main threat to air quality in cities while smaller towns were affected by the continued use of bituminous coal.

A ban on this smoky coal was introduced in Dublin in 1990 and has since been extended to places such as Cork, Dundalk, Limerick, Wexford, Galway, Waterford and Sligo.

Dr Ciarán O’Donnell, EPA programme manager, said the results for last year showed that air quality in Ireland remained good. “However, it can be improved further by reducing local emissions,” he said. Dr O’Donnell drew attention to the pollution threat from traffic and smoky fuel.

“The EPA asks the public to consider the environmental effects of their choice of domestic fuel and mode of transport,” he said.

The main pollutants recorded last year were nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter (PM10) and both were at similar levels to 2007.

Motor vehicles and electricity generating stations are the main sources of nitrogen dioxide while particulate matter is a type of air pollution that includes dust, soot and natural substances such as windblown sea salt.

Nitrogen dioxide concentrations complied with all limit values.

The highest mean value was recorded at Coleraine Street in Dublin city centre while Navan and Blanchardstown monitoring stations both recorded one exceedance of the hourly limit value.

From next year onwards, no more than 18 exceedances in a calendar year will be permitted.

Ozone concentrations were also similar to those measured in 2007. The hourly threshold was not exceeded at any station. An eight-hour target value was exceeded at a small number of stations, with Valentia showing the highest number of exceedances. However, the concentrations were still well within the limits set.

Figures used in the air quality report are based on monitoring data from 30 stations around the State.

The EPA continually monitors air quality across the State and provides results on the website at www.epa.ie/whatwedo/monitoring/air/data/

Results are updated hourly so people can log on at any time to check whether the current air quality is good, fair or poor.