EPA - Ireland's Environment, An Integrated Assessment - 2020

Ireland’s Environment – An Integrated Assessment 2020 that are approved by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority to place live shellfish on the market for human consumption. A mapping application on Irish shellfish biotoxin and phytoplankton status is available on the Marine Institute’s website. 1 This provides the latest information on shellfish safety data for shellfish producers, food business operators and consumers. The Marine Institute also publishes a weekly Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) Bulletin to provide information on the potential development and current status of harmful and toxic algae in Irish coastal waters, which can enter the human food chain through shellfish consumption. Air Quality The burning of solid fuels for home heating and our current reliance on private conventionally fuelled vehicles cause much of Ireland’s air pollution. Air pollution is the most significant environmental contributor to the burden of disease worldwide, causing an estimated six to seven million premature deaths each year (UN Environment, 2019). In Ireland, there are an estimated 1300 premature deaths annually due to poor air quality (EEA, 2020b), due predominantly to fine particulate matter (with a diameter less than 2.5 µm, PM 2.5 ). There is no known safe level of air pollution. Even brief periods of exposure to high concentrations of air pollutants have a measurable adverse impact on health (WHO, 2006). In general, Ireland’s air quality is deemed good when assessed against EU air quality standards. However, monitoring in 2019 at a Dublin city centre monitoring site at St John’s Road West found elevated nitrogen dioxide levels which shows that local urban air pollution issues needed to be tackled (Chapter 3). When compared with the more stringent WHO guideline values, which are set for the protection of human health, some challenges for certain air pollutants emerge, specifically emissions of fine particulate matter (EPA, 2020e). The burning of solid fuels for home heating, our current reliance on private conventionally fuelled (especially diesel) motor vehicles and emissions from agriculture are to blame for many of the air pollution issues that Ireland is currently experiencing. More extensive information on the contribution of these activities to air pollution and the steps to tackle emissions is given in Chapter 3; some specific actions are detailed in the paragraphs below. 1 http://webapps.marine.ie/HABs/BiotoxinMap Burning solid fuels such as coal, peat and wood products in our homes releases microscopic, airborne particles called particulate matter (PM), which are complex mixtures of various harmful chemicals. Those with underlying respiratory conditions, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, are particularly vulnerable to air pollution. A switch from burning solid fuels by all households would ensure a better environment for those particularly vulnerable populations, such as children with asthma. Reducing our use of solid fuels for home heating would be a triple win in terms of the benefits it would afford: (1) it would improve the quality of air we breathe in our homes; (2) it would reduce the levels of outdoor air pollution, which exposes the wider population to pollutants such as PM; and (3) it could help limit carbon dioxide emissions, which are contributing to climate change. An immediate national ban on ‘smoky’ coals is necessary if air quality and public health are to be significantly improved. A ban on the selling, buying and burning of ‘smoky’ coal is currently in force across several areas of the country and, from September 2020, the ban was extended to a further 13 towns 2 with populations over 10,000 people. However, nationwide coverage and implementation of the ban is essential if we are to seriously and proactively tackle this public health matter. To make real and effective reductions in the damaging effects and premature deaths caused by air pollution we need to move to cleaner and more efficient ways of heating our homes that reduce emissions of air pollutants and carbon dioxide. In addition, it will be crucial to ensure that the extension of this ban encourages a switch to cleaner alternatives, rather than from coal to other polluting solid fuels such as wet wood and peat. Another proactive step that should be implemented is an amendment to the Building Regulations to explicitly prohibit the inclusion of open fireplaces and solid fuel heating systems in all new houses, particularly those in urban areas. 2 Smoky coal will be banned in the following 13 towns from September 2020: Ashbourne, Ballina, Carrigtwohill, Castlebar, Cavan, Cobh, Enniscorthy, Killarney, Longford, Mallow, Midleton, Tramore, Tullamore. 364