Air quality in Ireland is generally good despite some concerning localised issues, according to a new report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Fine particulate matter from burning solid fuels for home heating, as well as exhaust fumes caused by traffic are the main pollutants.
By the end of last year, the EPA had established a network of 107 air quality monitoring stations around the country measuring a range of air pollutants including particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, sulphur dioxide, heavy metals and other chemicals.
These can damage health and contribute to premature deaths, so the EU has set legally binding limits for them all.
Last year, Ireland met all those EU air pollution limits, with no exceedances, and the EPA says air quality in Ireland compares favourably with many of our European neighbours.
At issue, however, is that following mounting evidence that even very small levels of air pollution damages health, the WHO introduced far more stringent air quality guidelines in recent years.
The ambition in Ireland's Clean Air Strategy is to move towards meeting those very stringent WHO Air Quality Guidelines by 2040, including interim targets by 2026 and 2030.
However, today's report shows that Ireland is way off those WHO targets, especially for particulate pollution which comes mainly from burning solid fuel in towns and villages, and nitrogen dioxide which is caused by traffic in cities.
The EPA is calling for people to move away from smoky fuels for home heating and to reduce the amount they use their cars.
It also calls for investment in clean public transport infrastructure across the country to be maintained.
Today’s 'Air Quality in Ireland 2022' report further identifies the critical role for local authorities in enforcement, implementation of existing plans and investment in infrastructure to encourage cleaner and healthier air quality choices:
- Local authorities must provide more resources to increase air enforcement activities and implement the new solid fuel regulations.
- Dublin local authorities must fully implement the Dublin Region Air Quality Plan 2021, to improve Nitrogen Dioxide levels in Dublin Region.
- Investment in clean public transport infrastructure across the country must be maintained and increased.
- More safe footpaths and cycle lanes must be created to continue to increase active travel as a viable and safe alternative to car use and associated nitrogen dioxide emissions.
