Air pollution is a major environmental risk to health. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), air pollution can increase the risk of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and both chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma. The WHO has described air pollution as the ‘single biggest environmental health risk’.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with Local Authorities, have implemented the Ambient Air Monitoring Programme with comprises of a network of 96 monitoring stations strategically positioned across the country measuring ‘real-time’ concentrations of atmospheric pollutants (further information available at: www.airquality.ie ).
In Co. Monaghan there are two Air monitoring stations located at the Council Machinery yard at Tirkeenan in Monaghan town and at the Kilkitt Water Treatment plant.
The monitoring unit at Tirkeenan is an Oisiris monitor that measures Particulate Matter 2.5 and 10 (PM2.5 & PM10). PM are a complex mixture of solid and liquid particles of organic and inorganic substances suspended in the air typically measured as PM10 and PM2.5 with diameters of 10μm (microns) or 2.5μm. PM is a common proxy indicator for air pollution. The level of particulate matter is of growing concern, particularly during the winter season as solid fuel burning can negatively impact on air quality and pose a risk to human health.
In addition, a second air monitoring station is provided at the Kilkitt Water Treatment plant. The Kilkitt site is a rural setting with little traffic or other influences on air quality. Monitoring is done using continuous monitors for nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and ozone. The systems at Tirkeenan and at Kilkitt measure and transmit the air monitoring data in real-time with graphical results presented on the EPA website.
The main source of Sulphur Dioxide in Ireland is burning coal and oil to heat homes and industries and to produce electricity. It is an irritant gas which attacks the throat and lungs. Prolonged exposure can lead to increases in respiratory illnesses like chronic bronchitis. It contributes to the formation of acid rain, which damages vegetation and buildings. Levels in Ireland are low to moderate. Overall levels have decreased over recent years due to increased use of low-sulphur “smokeless” coal, increased use of natural gas instead of solid fuels and reduced industrial emissions through IPC licensing.
Emissions from traffic are the main source of Nitrogen Oxides in Ireland, along with electricity generating stations and industry. Oxides of Nitrogen contribute to the formation of acid rain and ozone. Levels in Ireland are moderate but are increasing due to growth in traffic numbers.
The formation of ground level ozone (O3) is complex. It is formed from reactions between pollutants such as NOX, carbon monoxide and various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight. Ozone is also a transboundary pollutant – it originates in one country but is able to cause damage in another country’s environment, by crossing borders. High concentrations of ground level ozone can affect the functioning of the respiratory system and damage crops and other vegetation.
All members of the public have access to this data as well as the national Air Quality Index for Health. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index for Health (AQIH) is a number from 1 to 10 that tells you what the air quality currently is in the station nearest you and whether or not this might affect the health of you or your child. A reading of 10 means the air quality is very poor and a reading of one to three inclusive means that the air quality is good.
Air Quality Data for the Tirkeenan site in Monaghan town: Monaghan Site
Air Quality Data for the Kilkitt site: Kilkitt site
In addition more general information on air quality In Ireland is provided at https://airquality.ie/ including air quality forecast maps which gives provides users with a forecast of the likely air quality in the country in the coming days.
The table below summarises what determines how good or poor our air quality is based on the 5 pollutants that can harm our health. Further information on the EPA’s Air Quality for Health Index can be found at the following link: EPA Air Quality for Health Index.
Air quality in Ireland Report 2023
The 2023 Air Quality in Ireland report indicates that Air quality in Ireland is generally good and compares favourably with many of our European neighbours. Ireland met the current EU legal air quality limits in 2023, but monitoring results were higher than the more stringent health-based World Health Organization air quality guidelines for a number of pollutants including: particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ozone (O3). The main sources of these pollutants are the burning of solid fuel in our towns and villages and traffic in our cities. In our Clean Air Strategy Ireland has committed to achieving the WHO guideline values by 2040, with interim targets for 2026 and 2030. In 2023 air monitoring results from EPA stations across Ireland show that fine particulate matter (PM2.5), mainly from burning solid fuel in our homes, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), chiefly from road traffic, continue to be the main threats to good air quality. High levels of these pollutants are often associated with cold, still weather from late autumn through to early spring, when generally incidents of poor air quality of one to two days duration occur. The report identifies that using less solid fuel and cleaner fuels to heat our homes, making our homes more energy efficient and reducing our use of cars to go to school, work and play are actions that will contribute towards achieving our Clean Air targets.
Download the Air Quality in Ireland Report 2023.