37 / 234
33
Chapter 2: Air Quality and Transboundary Air Emissions
EPA Air Research Programme
Between 2007 and 2015, the EPA funded over 50 air-related research projects, with a total commitment of
approximately €11 million. The projects funded include desk studies, fellowships, as well as small- and medium-
scale projects.
The air research theme deals with (1) urban and rural air quality, (2) transboundary air pollution, (3) ecological effects,
as well as health impacts, (4) emissions inventories and projections, (5) sources of air pollution, notably industrial,
agricultural, residential and transport and (6) cross-cutting issues with climate change. The research programme
encourages a broad stakeholder engagement including the business community, NGOs, civic society and the public.
The outputs of EPA-funded research have informed national thinking, contributed to EU analysis, and have been
presented and used in UN forums, including the UNECE LRTAP Convention.
More details are available at:
www.epa.ie/researchandeducation/research/researchpillars/climate/Key Achievements of Air Pollution Research
n
Development of the EMEP transboundary air pollution monitoring network and support for activities at Mace
Head and Valentia (Global Atmospheric Watch sites for the World Meteorological Organization).
n
Development of a volcanic ash model (developed after the eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano). This
model has subsequently been adopted by the Irish Aviation Authority as one of its tools to determine the risk to
flights in the event of a volcanic eruption.
n
Emission inventories for (1) certain combustion parameters from a number of sources including transport, small-
scale combustion installations and residential combustion, (2) ammonia from agricultural installations and (3)
persistent organic pollutants.
n
Integrated modelling – co-benefits and trade-off for air quality and climate change policies (e.g. “dieselification”
and increased biomass burning).
n
Highlighting that air quality is also an issue outside large towns and cities, especially for those places where solid
fuel is prevalent, e.g. off the natural gas grid or outside the ban areas for smoky coal. Identification, using source
apportionment techniques, that residential combustion of solid fuels is a significant contributor to air pollution in
small towns.
n
Development of critical loads for designated habitats under the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC); assessment
of the influence of transboundary air pollution on Irish lakes and soils; baseline ammonia deposition rates (and
deposition map) for Ireland; assessment of the influence of ammonia emissions from intensive agricultural
installations on designated habitats under the EU Habitats Directive.
n
Research on bioaerosol monitoring techniques.
n
Development of an air quality forecast model.
n
Use of source apportionment techniques (monitoring and modelling) for local and transboundary air pollution.
Priority Areas for Air Pollution Research
n
Supporting the national clean air strategy (drafting in progress), with a particular focus on the CAFE Directive, the
WHO guidelines and the LRTAP Convention.
n
Ensuring that the policies designed to meet air quality requirements match those policies designed to meet
climate change imperatives.