EU threatens court action as Dublin air pollution continues to worsen

AIR pollution in Dublin, especially from cancer-causing chemicals from increased traffic, is getting worse but the Government has failed to produce a plan to reduce the pollution.

The European Commission is threatening to take the government to court to force them to draw up a plan and implement it.

The main problem is nitrogen dioxide and particles known as PM10, produced mainly by traffic. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) they contribute to heart problems and lung cancer and create breathing difficulties such as asthma, especially in young and older people.

An estimated 13,000 children under the age of four living in Europe die each year from this kind of pollution. The WHO estimates that if the amount of PM10 was reduced to safe limits the number of child deaths could be almost halved. While Dublin is classified as a moderately polluted city, a WHO report says the air quality is getting worse, mainly because of the increase in taxis, which is adding to the levels of nitrogen dioxide and PM10.

Dublin Corporation’s air pollution monitoring network indicates the nitrogen dioxide limits are continually being exceeded and expects that the new levels set by the EU for PM10 will be breached soon also.

Ray Bateson, co-ordinator of the Healthy Cities Project affiliated to the WHO in his recent report said the increase in the number of taxis, and especially those with diesel engines, is increasing the pollution levels in the city. He proposed the council give incentives to taxi drivers to convert their vehicles to liquefied petroleum gas, which is much cleaner. He estimates the cost would be quickly recouped in savings in the health services, where respiratory and other ailments caused by air pollution are a significant cost. The first pollution-reduction plan was due at the EU by December 31, 2003, but so far none has been received from Dublin or from eight other EU members.

Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström said this will be the second time she has warned the Government about this, even though they agreed to produce a plan by December, 2003.

The commission has also sent first written warnings to a number of countries including Ireland for failing to meet a December, 2000, deadline for installing proper treatment for waste-water discharges from cities and towns with more than 15,000 inhabitants.