Traffic and fuel are main pollutants of Irish air
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its annual report on air quality yesterday which showed that levels recorded in Ireland during 2005 complied with all international standards.
But heavy traffic and non-smokeless fuel were highlighted as two main causes of poor air quality in this country.
The report showed nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter, otherwise known as PM10, are the main air pollutants in the Republic.
Both substances are mostly generated by road traffic and the combustion of solid fuel by industrial and domestic users.
Results were based on data supplied by 25 stations around the country which monitor air quality on an hourly and daily basis.
“What our results for 2005 show is that good air quality generally depends on local emissions,” said EPA programme manager Dr Ciaran O’Donnell.
Nitrogen dioxide and PM10 levels were highest in urban areas, largely due to traffic density.
The highest reading for nitrogen dioxide occurred at Winetavern Street in Dublin, near Christchurch Cathedral, although it was almost 25% below the recommended safe level.
There were also fewer recordings of PM10 levels in excess of recommended limits in 2005 than in previous years.
High levels of lead which once posed a real risk to health are no longer a problem since the introduction of unleaded petrol, according to the EPA. All recordings of lead were less than 10% of the safety limit.
Dr O’Donnell encouraged people to consider the environment when choosing what fuel they use.
Meanwhile, the EPA reported ozone levels returned to normal yesterday after Met Éireann issued a warning on Wednesday that they had breached the “information threshold”, the level set to protect the most sensitive section of the population.
Air-monitoring stations nationwide recorded ozone levels in excess of 180 microgrammes per cubic metre on Wednesday evening.
High levels of ozone, which acts as an irritant, can cause breathing difficulties among the young, elderly and people with respiratory problems. Such risk groups are advised not to partake in any strenuous activity when ozone levels are high.
Dr O’Donnell said Wednesday’s high ozone levels were unusual and were caused by “the interaction of various precursor compounds in the presence of sunlight and high temperatures”.
He found that high levels were only likely to persist if the temperature remains exceptionally high.
