Basic HTML Version
Ireland’s Environment 2012
viii
Chapter 7
Land and Soil
85
Introduction
86
The Current Situation
86
Land Use and Land Cover
86
Agriculture
88
Peatland
88
Forestry
89
Soil
90
Soil Biodiversity
91
Soil Organic Matter
91
Drivers and Pressures
91
Land Use
91
Population Growth
91
Soil Degradation
91
Soil Contamination
91
Responses
92
Strategic Environmental
Assessment
92
National Landscape Strategy 92
Environmental Liability
93
Investment in Research
93
Conclusion and
Future Challenges
94
References
94
Section III
Managing
and Protecting
the Environment
Chapter 8
Environment and
the Economy
99
Introduction
100
Resource Efficiency and
the Green Economy
100
Material Consumption
and Waste
103
Management and Use
of Natural Resources
104
Water
104
Biodiversity
106
Clean and Efficient Energy
107
Sustainable Transport
108
Sustainable Agriculture
110
Environmental Regulation
112
Conclusion and
Future Challenges
112
References
113
Chapter 9
Environment and Health
117
Introduction
118
Ecosystem Services and Health 118
Green Spaces and Health 119
Clean Water and Health
120
Drinking Water
120
Waste Water
121
Bathing Water
123
Shellfish
123
Sea Lettuce
123
Clean Air and Health
124
Outdoor Air Quality
124
Indoor Air Quality
125
Radon
127
Ozone and Health
127
Stratospheric Ozone
Depletion
127
Ground-Level Ozone
128
Odour
128
Bioaerosols
128
Noise
128
Chemicals and Other Threats
to Health in the Environment
129
Persistent Organic Pollutants
(POPs)
129
Heavy Metals
130
Endocrine Disruptors
and Pharmaceuticals
130
Pharmaceutical and
Personal Care Products
130
Nanomaterials
130
Electromagnetic Radiation 131
Waste
131
Environmental Regulation
and Public Health
131
Conclusion and
Future Challenges
132
References
132