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Ireland’s Environment 2012
124
Health Service Executive (HSE) has
concluded that such accumulations
can pose a potentially significant risk
to both animal and human health.
Due to the serious issues arising from
this problem a multidisciplinary, multi-
agency task force was established to
investigate the issue and to advise
on the management and control
of the problem of sea lettuce. The
Task Force reported in 2010 and
identified that the problem related
directly to the flow of nutrients into
the affected waters from domestic,
industrial and agricultural sources.
In the short term the accumulations
should be removed for use as an
organic fertiliser; the longer term
solution of reducing nutrient inputs
should be addressed through the
EU Water Framework Directive.
Beach users should avoid such
accumulations of sea lettuce and
should prevent children, horses and
dogs from breaking the surface crust.
Clean Air and Health
Harmful substances in the air can
cause both immediate and long-
term damage to health. They include
natural materials and man-made
pollutants as well as odour and
noise. Protecting clean air is vital
to human health.
Outdoor Air Quality
Outdoor air pollution is associated
with a range of health problems
and causes over 300,000 premature
deaths in the EU every year (EC, 2005).
Air pollutants can be transported
over long distances. Monitoring
indicates that some pollutants
reaching Ireland originated in other
countries, but most measured air
pollutants of concern in Ireland are
from local sources.
Air quality in Ireland is generally
good and is among the best in
Europe (EPA, 2011b). However,
monitoring shows that levels of
some pollutants in Ireland are at
concentrations that may impact
on health. The air quality index
provides easily understandable
hourly information on air quality
and is available on the EPA website.
It allows people sensitive to air
pollution to take preventive actions
that can minimise the health impact
of poor ambient air quality.
Under the EU National Emission
Ceilings Directive, Ireland is required
to limit annual emissions of sulphur
dioxide (SO
2
), nitrogen oxides (NO
X
),
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
and ammonia (NH
3
). EPA emission
data have shown reductions in
emissions of these air pollutants
between 1990 and 2009, and Ireland
is now in compliance with the 2010
limit for three of the four pollutants.
Although NO
X
emissions have been
reduced by 31.3% between 1990
and 2009, these emissions continue
to be above the limit. Concentrations
of nitrogen dioxide (NO
2
) and
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs) are close to their respective
limit and target values at some
traffic-impacted sites in Dublin and
Cork. Figure 9.4 (EPA, 2011b) shows
concentrations of NO
2
measured
from 2002 to 2010 at urban stations
in Dublin and Cork and at a rural
station in Cork.
Traffic emissions will be reduced
by introducing and implementing
policies to reduce travel demand,
to increase use of alternatives to
the private car and to continue
improving the efficiency of motorised
transport. The actions set out
in the Smarter Travel Policy for
Sustainable Transport (DOT, 2009)
should be implemented to improve
air quality. The launch in 2012 of
Smarter Travel Areas in Limerick
City, Dungarvan and Westport
aims to encourage a behavioural
switch to more sustainable forms of
transport. Through an investment
of €23 million over five years,
cycling and walking facilities will be
enhanced with a view to reducing
congestion and pollution, while
improving people’s health and
fitness.
Figure 9.4
Mean NO
2
Concentrations at Air Quality Stations 2002–2010 (Source: EPA)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
µg/m
3
2010 Annual Limit Value
Dublin (urban)
Cork (urban)
Cork (rural)