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A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Shannen Healy, (aka _greengal) getting kitted out to look down the drains at Portmarnock</p>

outdoors

Cork enviro campaigner takes a look into our sewers... so you don't have to

Only the 3 Ps for the loo please says the de-influencer who visited a pumping station and discovered more than she wanted to know about some of the nasties flushed down our toilets

<p>Anja Murray: "Knowing as much as we do about the dynamics of fish in our waterways, it is astonishing that we as a society continue to dredge river channels; to get derogations from the nitrates directive to facilitate continued high levels of fertiliser use; and to continually let chronic polluters off the hook when industrial and agricultural discharge licences are repeatedly breached."</p>

outdoors

Societal acceptance of severe pollution and fish kills

<p>The Earth’s ozone layer is the invisible shield that protects us from the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.</p>

outdoors

Back in the ozone: How we plugged the hole in the sky

Plastic pollution disposable gloves and sea turtle

outdoors

Why the world is divided on plastic as UN treaty talks underway

Woman hands applying sunscreen, with the beach in the background

outdoors

Sun, sea and a slippery slope: What your sunscreen isn’t telling you

Argentinian waterway ‘looks like a stream of blood’ amid pollution fears

world

Argentinian waterway ‘looks like a stream of blood’ amid pollution fears

waiting

Carbon pawprint of pets: Are our dogs and cats secret climate culprits?

From the food they eat to dog waste on the ground, our pets can end up adding to global pollution — but there are ways to give our dogs and cats a happy, healthy life while also treading more lightly on the planet. Here's how...

Fri, 24 Jan, 2025

Water Spouts Gushing

Raw sewage scandal — so many dangers with dumping untreated waste into our waterways

More than half of treatment plants discharge water that’s not always treated to EPA standards... and the EPA has identified 73 priority areas for urgent action

Thu, 23 Jan, 2025

Lady’s Island Lake has enormous significance, but its lagoon ecosystems are collapsing

Lady’s Island Lake has enormous significance, but its lagoon ecosystems are collapsing

Wexford's Lady’s Island Lake has enormous ecological, spiritual and historical significance.

Wed, 22 Jan, 2025

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

A quarter of freshwater animals at risk of extinction

The assessment found that crabs, crayfish and shrimps face the highest extinction risk of the groups studied, with 30% under threat, followed by 26% of freshwater fish species, and 16% of dragonflies and damselflies

Wed, 08 Jan, 2025

Bosnia’s capital chokes on toxic air as thick blanket of smog engulfs Sarajevo

Bosnia’s capital chokes on toxic air as thick blanket of smog engulfs Sarajevo

Flights have been grounded and people told to stay indoors as a thick blanket of smog engulfed Bosnia’s capital as residents tried to cope with toxic air.

Thu, 19 Dec, 2024

Cost about CO2 reduction - concept with CO2 text against woodland and european euro banknote

The Carbon Credit Conundrum: A green solution or a licence to pollute?

On paper, the idea is simple and elegant. Polluters pay, green projects receive funding, and emissions are reduced overall...

Fri, 13 Dec, 2024

Parks and museums closed for 10 days in eastern Pakistan due to smog

Parks and museums closed for 10 days in eastern Pakistan due to smog

Authorities in eastern Pakistan have closed public parks, zoos, museums, historical buildings and playgrounds for 10 days as a record-breaking “smog wave” choked 18 districts of Punjab province, leaving tens of thousands of people ill.

Fri, 08 Nov, 2024

Record-high pollution makes thousands ill in Pakistan

Record-high pollution makes thousands ill in Pakistan

Record-high air pollution in Pakistan’s Punjab province has prompted authorities to close more schools and keep government employees at home, as doctors reported an increase in people seeking treatment for smog-related ailments.

Wed, 06 Nov, 2024

Seán Ronayne: Do we have enough safe hands to save Irish nature?

Seán Ronayne: Do we have enough safe hands to save Irish nature?

We just need to do the right thing by Irish nature, and understand that we, as a species cannot keep taking from the land as if we were the only inhabitants. It will give, eventually

Sat, 02 Nov, 2024

Smog cloaks Delhi as Diwali firecrackers push air pollution to hazardous levels

Smog cloaks Delhi as Diwali firecrackers push air pollution to hazardous levels

A thick layer of toxic smog cloaked India’s capital on Friday, as smoke from firecrackers used to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, pushed air pollution to hazardous levels.

Fri, 01 Nov, 2024

Parallel parking cars on urban street. Outdoor parking on road

Donal Hickey: Engine idling — and why it's so dangerous for humans and animals

We literally have to cut the engine idling. Exhaust fumes are especially harmful to children, pregnant women, older people and people with chest illnesses. Engine idling while on school or sports activities pick-up duty is a contributor to exhaust fume pollution

Thu, 17 Oct, 2024

Climate change

Ireland on course to miss 2026 clean air targets, warns EPA

While Ireland met the current EU legal air quality limits, the monitoring results were higher than the more stringent health-based WHO air quality guidelines for several pollutants

Mon, 23 Sep, 2024

Government's water action plan 'too little, too late', say environmental groups

Government's water action plan 'too little, too late', say environmental groups

The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN), an umbrella group of Ireland’s water NGOs, says Ireland needed 'a very, very ambitious plan'

Thu, 05 Sep, 2024

Save our rivers: Raw sewage spills among three incidents a day at water facilities reported to EPA

Save our rivers: Raw sewage spills among three incidents a day at water facilities reported to EPA

As the 'Irish Examiner' begins a week-long series focusing on five key rivers, EPA data lays out the immense scale of the problem facing our inland waterways

Mon, 19 Aug, 2024

Algae outbreak in Lough Neagh

Anja Murray: Urgent action needed to make Lough Neagh pollution and green sludge a distant memory

The rich wildlife of Lough Neagh is being damaged by decades of pollution by nutrients from agriculture, wastewater, septic tanks and industrial processes — and we need to tackle this now

Thu, 15 Aug, 2024

Young woman cleaning microplastics from sand on the beach - Environmental problem, pollution and ecolosystem warning concept - F

Wastewater runoff from washing machines may be polluting our deep-sea corals — UCC study

Researchers discovered the presence of microplastics in the North Atlantic's deep waters and cold-water corals

Thu, 01 Aug, 2024

Cork councillors seek meeting with Uisce Éireann over 'truly shocking' video of river sewage

Cork councillors seek meeting with Uisce Éireann over 'truly shocking' video of river sewage

They have are writing to Environment Minister Eamon Ryan to complain about Uisce Éireann’s handling of its treatment plants in the region

Tue, 23 Jul, 2024

Cork councillors seek meeting with Uisce Éireann over 'truly shocking' video of river sewage

Cork councillors seek meeting with Uisce Éireann over 'truly shocking' video of river sewage

They have are writing to Environment Minister Eamon Ryan to complain about Uisce Éireann’s handling of its treatment plants in the region

Tue, 23 Jul, 2024

Exposure to air pollution increases risk of depression and anxiety in older people, study finds

Exposure to air pollution increases risk of depression and anxiety in older people, study finds

Research from Economic and Social Research Institute found higher than average levels of a particular kind of air pollution was significantly associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety

Tue, 16 Jul, 2024

Ratcliffe on Soar power station stock

Air pollution can cut the chances of having a baby with IVF by 38%

Groundbreaking research suggests that if women are exposed to air pollution before retrieving eggs during IVF, it reduces the odds of a live birth

Mon, 08 Jul, 2024

Anja Murray: Rivers running out of air

Anja Murray: Rivers running out of air

Oxygen is a vital element of healthy waters — by overloading waterways with nutrients, aquatic animals are struggling to breathe

Wed, 19 Jun, 2024

Ibiza Castle

Irish holidaymakers warned over 'black flag' beaches at Spanish hotspots

Spanish environmental campaign group Ecologists in Action highlighted popular beaches affected by chemical pollution, marine waste, over-development and sewage discharges

Thu, 13 Jun, 2024

Cork anglers 'devastated' as river fish kill causes cancellation of prestigious competition

Cork anglers 'devastated' as river fish kill causes cancellation of prestigious competition

Kanturk and District Trout Anglers Association said it was 'heartbreaking to see a river that has been nurtured so much to be absolutely decimated'

Wed, 12 Jun, 2024

Thousands of fish wiped out in pivotal Munster river after suspected chemical spill

Thousands of fish wiped out in pivotal Munster river after suspected chemical spill

At least 5,000 fish, including salmon, trout, and lamprey were killed along a 4km stretch of Cork's River Allow

Tue, 11 Jun, 2024

Autumn weather November 2nd 2023

EPA: Ireland must build climate resilience into the way it manages bathing waters

Environment watchdog reveals the number of water pollution incidents rose by a third in 2023 due in part to extreme weather events

Thu, 16 May, 2024

Fisheries body tells PAC of 61 incorrectly authorised pollution cases that cost €170k

Fisheries body tells PAC of 61 incorrectly authorised pollution cases that cost €170k

PAC heard on Thursday that the rental of a €1.25m house to a junior employee of Inland Fisheries Ireland for four years 'can’t happen again' due to the introduction of new policies

Thu, 25 Apr, 2024

dead fish floated in the river, water resource, water pollution

Mick Clifford: Water polluters face no penalty while watchdog remains in disarray

One fallout from the controversies surrounding Inland Fisheries Ireland has been that 55 prosecutions due to be taken have had to be abandoned

Wed, 17 Apr, 2024

Fire lit in an embellished white fireplace in a fancy home

Air pollution has improved over past 20 years — but still above WHO levels

About 98% of Europeans live in areas the WHO says have unhealthy levels of small particles

Wed, 13 Mar, 2024

Energy prices

Ammonia levels four times higher in Europe’s farming regions, study finds

Biggest health impact comes when ammonia reacts with air pollution from traffic and industry to form particle pollution, researchers found

Fri, 08 Mar, 2024

Lough Neagh algal blooms

‘Like the flip of a switch, it’s gone’: Has the ecosystem of Ireland's largest lake collapsed?

Lough Neagh’s flies were seen as a nuisance. Now their sudden disappearance is a startling omen for a lake that supplies 40% of Northern Ireland’s water

Sun, 25 Feb, 2024

Fin Whale

Anja Murray: Dozens of whales spotted along the Waterford coast this year

Whales play a key role in sustaining healthy oceans — to allow them to recover from the near-complete annihilation they suffered at the hands of historic whaling, and now with naval and other sound pollution in the sea, enormous conservation efforts are still very much needed

Wed, 14 Feb, 2024

FRANCE-TRANSPORT-SUV

Wheels of change: How Paris aims to drive polluting SUVs from capital

As Parisians vote this weekend on tripling parking charges for SUVs, could this be a positive initiative for Irish cities such as Dublin and Cork?

Sun, 04 Feb, 2024

Cork council to crack down on those who can't prove how they are disposing of waste

Cork council to crack down on those who can't prove how they are disposing of waste

Householders and businesses face prosecution if they cannot prove to council inspectors how they dispose of their waste

Mon, 29 Jan, 2024

Toxic smog which shrouds Lahore poses cross-border challenge in South Asia

Toxic smog which shrouds Lahore poses cross-border challenge in South Asia

The air smells burnt in Lahore, a city in Pakistan’s east that used to be famous for its gardens but has become infamous for its terrible air quality.

Sun, 21 Jan, 2024

Worker cleaning falling leaves in autumn park. Man using leaf blower for cleaning autumn leaves. Autumn season. Park cleaning se

S Pointless and harmful — here's why leaf blowers suck

Noisy, polluting, disruptive... leave the leaf blower off your present list this year

Mon, 11 Dec, 2023

Anja Murray: Shameful that our activities have put our waterways in jeopardy for so long

Anja Murray: Shameful that our activities have put our waterways in jeopardy for so long

Along with water quality improvements, there is a massive role for active restoration of habitats in rivers and lakes too

Wed, 29 Nov, 2023

Donal Hickey: When smoke gets in your eyes... and lungs

Donal Hickey: When smoke gets in your eyes... and lungs

It is projected that an estimated €100 million worth of coal products will be imported from Northern Ireland into Ireland this year alone. Despite being banned in Ireland, smoky coal continues to be brought down from Northern Ireland in substantial quantities

Thu, 09 Nov, 2023

Climate change

Getting from climate pledges to climate action

Devising effective policies to clean up our fossil-fuel-based economies requires a combination of technical, economic, and political expertise, underscoring the need for NGOs to provide regulators with critical data and technical know-how

Wed, 08 Nov, 2023

Clare water treatment plant continues failure to make drinking water safe

Clare water treatment plant continues failure to make drinking water safe

An audit of the West Clare Regional Water Supply in August by the Environmental Protection Agency found levels of trihalomethane above recommended safety limits at its new treatment plant in Doolough

Wed, 08 Nov, 2023

Autumn weather November 5th 2023

EPA says councils need to step up efforts combating pollution

Scarcity of resources should not be used to explain the lack of action taken against polluters in local areas, say officials

Wed, 08 Nov, 2023

Construction banned and schools shut as toxic air engulfs New Delhi

Construction banned and schools shut as toxic air engulfs New Delhi

Masks have returned to the streets of New Delhi as residents grapple with the annual surge in air pollution that has engulfed the Indian capital region.

Tue, 07 Nov, 2023

New Delhi shuts schools and limits construction work amid severe air pollution

New Delhi shuts schools and limits construction work amid severe air pollution

New Delhi’s government has shut primary schools and banned polluting vehicles and construction work in an attempt to reduce the worst haze and smog of the season.

Fri, 03 Nov, 2023

Anja Murray: Losing our lakes is a poor exchange for short-term economic gain

Anja Murray: Losing our lakes is a poor exchange for short-term economic gain

We have health warnings against lake swimming in dozens of locations across Ireland because of contamination with harmful algal blooms and the presence of toxic blue-green algae in the water — all boosted by artificially elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorous in the water

Wed, 18 Oct, 2023

From Christmas trees and bags of coal to offal — the items clogging up Ireland's drains

From Christmas trees and bags of coal to offal — the items clogging up Ireland's drains

Other items which have caused major blockages to the country’s sewerage system include concrete blocks, tyres, tricycles, and beachballs

Mon, 16 Oct, 2023