Increase in air pollution levels

The levels of poisons being pumped into the air by cars and lorries has jumped by up to 43% since 1990.

In the past 20 years, the number of vehicles on Irish roads has doubled, leading to increased gridlock and the rise in poisons in the air. There is especially concern in Dublin where EU safety levels are being breached at a number of city centre locations.

The Environmental Protection Agency apportions a lot of the blame for the rise in carbon dioxide emissions over the last 10 years to motorists sitting in cars, who make an average round trip journey of 14 miles each day.

In Dublin, the situation is particularly bad and the levels of some chemicals in the air are breaching EU levels. On College Street in the city centre, your lungs are taking in excess nitrogen dioxide, while on Merchants Quay, they could be assaulted by PM 10.

The news is not all bad, however. Lead levels are significantly down and the amount of smoke and sulphur dioxide in the air is also on the decline.