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Ireland’s largest source of air pollution is the burning of solid fuel in residential properties, and this is also the main contributor to some 1,300 premature deaths a year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said.
In its air quality report for 2019, it says that while the air quality in Ireland is generally good and compares favorably with many of our European neighbors, “there are worrisome localized problems” arising from burning solid fuel for heating. buildings and traffic in large urban areas.
EPA monitoring shows that in urban areas traffic-related nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution is increasing with the EU limit value for this pollutant exceeded at a Dublin traffic monitoring location – in St John’s Road West. The EPA report warns that “these types of exceedances will continue unless we limit our dependence on fossil fuel-powered transportation, particularly diesel cars.”
Growing concern
“The levels of fine particulate matter (fine particulate matter) in our air are also of increasing concern, with an estimated 1,300 premature deaths in Ireland related to this pollutant,” he adds. The main threat comes in the form of PM2.5 that arises from the burning of solid fuels.
The values of the World Health Organization guidelines for air quality were exceeded at 33 EPA monitoring stations, “mainly due to the levels of fine particles in our air.” Levels are particularly high during the winter months when the high use of solid fuels such as coal, grass and wet wood negatively impacts air quality, especially in cities and towns.
The report notes that “any move towards cleaner modes of fuels for home heating will have a subsequent improvement in air quality.”
Initial studies of the impact of coronavirus restrictions in March to May 2020 indicate that NO2 levels fell dramatically, especially in urban areas. Levels of particulate matter did not decrease similarly, the EPA confirmed.
Dr Ciara McMahon, director of her office for radiation protection and environmental monitoring, said Ireland was famous for its countryside and its pure, clean air, “but we can no longer take this for granted.”
“Poor air quality affects people’s health and quality of life, so now is the time to tackle the two key issues that have a negative impact on air quality: emissions from transportation in large areas. urban and emissions from the burning of solid fuels in our cities, towns and villages. , “she added.
Lung health
“The choices we make affect the levels of pollution in the air we breathe, which in turn affects the health of our lungs, heart and other organs. We need to decarbonise our public transportation system and, in general, reduce our dependence on diesel and gasoline vehicles. Moving to cleaner ways of heating our homes will also significantly improve air quality throughout Ireland, ”added Dr. McMahon.
The report supports the introduction of a national ban on smoked charcoal and calls for a review of “the feasibility of a broader ban on smoked fuels for towns and cities.”
It lists solutions that include more energy efficient buildings, district heating systems, restrictions on the use of solid fuels, updating old heating systems and creating low emission zones.
EPA Air Quality Manager Patrick Kenny said that due to the continuing negative impacts of air pollutants on people’s health and the impacts of emissions at the local level, monitoring was expanded under the national program monitoring of ambient air quality: 24 more stations were installed in 2019, bringing the total to 84.
EPA provides the Air Quality Health Index and results in real time online.
The air quality report is available at www.epa.ie
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