Irish air quality falls below WHO guidelines for pollutants 

Traffic-related NO2 and home-heated fine particulate matter remain the main threats to good air quality, said the EPA.

Air quality in Ireland, while better than most other EU countries, still falls down when measured against newly introduced World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, new data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows.

The latest data reveals that air quality here is “generally good compared to our neighbours” but fails to meet the WHO yardsticks in relation to the likes of particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide, and ozone.

This is due mainly to the burning of solid fuel in our towns and villages and traffic in our cities, said the EPA.

Particulate matter is all solid and liquid particles suspended in air, such as dust, pollen, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets.

NO2 causes inflammation of the airways in high doses, which can cause irreversible damage to the respiratory system.

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Traffic congestion is a major contributor of the pollutant and one of the main motivations for the pedestrianisation of city streets across Europe for local authorities.

The WHO published updated recommendations for air quality in 2021 after a scientific review but the EU has yet to update its own directive, last revised over a decade ago.

Sharp differences exist between the current EU standards and the new WHO recommendations.

The EU Parliament voted this month to adopt WHO recommendations by 2035, which many scientists and environmental campaigners have said is not nearly fast enough.

Air pollution is linked to 7m premature deaths globally, 400,000 in the EU, and more than 1,300 in Ireland every year due to factors such as NO2 and particulate matter.

In 2022, air monitoring results from EPA stations across Ireland showed that home-heated fine particulate matter and traffic-related NO2 remain the main threats to good air quality, said the environmental watchdog.

High levels of pollutants from the likes of coal, peat, and wood are often associated with cold, still weather from late autumn through to early spring, when generally short-term incidents of poor air quality occur, it added.

Using less solid fuel and cleaner fuels to heat homes, and reducing use of cars to go to school, work, and play, are actions that will contribute towards achieving the WHO guidelines, said the EPA.

“While undoubtedly challenging, the significantly positive impacts of clean air on health are clear and the report identifies some of the actions that are necessary to achieve the health-based air quality guidelines,” said EPA environmental monitoring director Micheál Lehane.

The EPA said:

• Local authorities must provide more resources to increase air enforcement activities and implement the new solid fuel regulations;
• Dublin local authorities must fully implement the Dublin Region Air Quality Plan 2021 in order to improve NO2 levels;
• Investment in clean public transport infrastructure across the country must be maintained and increased;
• More safe footpaths and cycle lanes must be created to continue to increase active travel as a viable and safe alternative to car use and associated NO2 emissions.