Air pollution problems highest in small towns
Traffic and non-smokeless coal are the two main causes of air pollution in Ireland, particularly in urban areas, and the public should consider environmental issues in their choice of fuels, says the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
While overall air quality throughout the country remains “good”, according to the EPA’s report for 2006, levels of “particulate matter” — solid pollutants caused by the burning of fuels as well as dust, wind-borne sea salt and industrial emissions — are highest in small towns because of “limited use” of smokeless fuel.
Such pollution can cause respiratory problems in humans. There is also concern about the levels of nitrogen dioxide — mainly caused by heavy traffic in built-up areas — and ozone, which is formed by a combination of hot conditions and pollution.
Bans on bituminous (“smoky”) coal have been in force in Dublin since 1990, Cork city since 1995, Limerick, Wexford, Arklow, Drogheda, and Dundalk since 1998, Waterford, Naas, Leixlip, Newbridge, and Celbridge since 2000, and Tralee, Kilkenny, Sligo and Bray since 2003.
“All areas have shown a significant improvement overall in terms of air quality since the controls were introduced,” says the report.
Levels of ozone were also higher than normal last year, with a particularly high amount in July because of a combination of hot sunny weather and the movement of polluted air masses from Europe.
EU guidelines allow for up to 35 instances of air pollution exceeding health limits in a year. Ennis recorded the highest amount (19) of exceedances of the 50 microgrammes per cubic metre parameter.
EPA programme manager Dr Ciaran O’Donnell said the results show the need for reducing local emissions.
“Traffic and non-smokeless fuel are the two main causes of poor air quality in Ireland,” he said.
