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Chapter 8: Environment, Health and Wellbeing
EPA about odour during 2015, with 10 sites accounting for
75% of all complaints. While the numbers of complaints
are unacceptable, it should be noted that this figure has
decreased significantly in recent years.
Bioaerosols
There is sufficient evidence to support a precautionary
approach for regulatory purposes.
Bioaerosols are airborne particles consisting of
microorganisms and other small biological particles
suspended in the air which are generated through
both natural and industrial processes. The health
risks associated with bioaerosols can be a cause of
public concern, especially for people living close to
waste composting facilities. Composting is a microbial
process and the agitation of compost during turning
and screening produces bioaerosols, in particular the
allergenic fungus
Aspergillus fumigatus
. Research has
found that the general population is not at risk of
infection resulting from exposure to bioaerosols; however,
immunocompromised individuals are at an increased
risk, along with individuals who suffer from asthma or
allergies (Prasad, 2004). In a recent study of bioaerosol
exposure and health outcomes by Pearson
et al.
(2015),
it was concluded that “the evidence base on health
effects of bioaerosol emissions from composting facilities
is still limited, although there is sufficient evidence
to support a precautionary approach for regulatory
purposes. While data to date are suggestive of possible
respiratory effects, further study is needed to confirm this
and to explore other health outcomes.”
Composting facilities are subject to regulatory control by
the EPA and local authorities, which ensures that their
operation does not have an adverse effect on human
health and the environment. Health-related exposure limits
are needed, especially in approval procedures of industrial
facilities such as composting plants or livestock farms
emitting bioaerosols.
Clean Water and Health
Drinking water investment is critical to provide safe
and secure supplies.
Safe drinking water is essential to public health, and
therefore water must not contain microorganisms and
substances at concentrations that could endanger health,
such as pathogenic parasites or chemical contaminants.
Most public tap water in Ireland is drawn from surface
water sources, i.e. rivers and lakes (82%), with the
remainder originating from groundwater (11%) and
springs (7%). The breakdown of drinking water supply
types in Ireland is shown in Table 8.1. It shows that
there are 973 public water supplies, which is a relatively
large number for our population but is reflective of our
dispersed settlement patterns (EPA, 2015c).
Drinking water supplies must meet specific legislative
requirements, the objective of which is to protect human
health by ensuring that water intended for human
consumption is wholesome and clean, and to specify
quality standards for water at the consumer’s tap.
The results of the 2014 drinking water monitoring
programme for public water supplies show 99.9%
compliance with microbiological standards and 99.4%
compliance with chemical standards, based on 175,498
sample results (EPA, 2015c). While this indicates that
the majority of public water supplies are safe, further
improvements are necessary to improve the security of
supplies and avoid long-term Boil Water Notices in the
future. In particular, the EPA has identified 119 supplies (as
at April 2016) on a Remedial Action List which are in need
of upgrade, replacement or improved operational control.
The overall compliance figures also mask poor results for a
few individual parameters, notably trihalomethanes (THMs)
(90.7%, which is very low compared with other European
countries) and lead (95.7%). Enforcement actions continue
to be taken by the EPA to ensure compliance with drinking
water standards.
Table 8.1
Drinking Water Supply Types in Ireland (Source: EPA)
Supply Type
Supplier/Supplying
No. of Supplies Population (%)
Supervisory Authority
Public Water Supplies
Irish Water
973
81.9 EPA
Public Group Schemes
Local Group
512
1.9 Local Authorities
Private Group Schemes
Local Group
421
4.2 Local Authorities
Small Private Supplies
Commercial/public activity
1,758
0.9 Local Authorities
Exempted Supplies
Individual supplier
170,000*
11.1 Exempted
*estimated number of private wells or boreholes