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

Chapter 15: Environmental Performance, Policy and Implementation POLICY AREA CURRENT ASSESSMENT OUTLOOK NOTES AIR Air quality Particulate matter (PM 2.5 and/or PM 10 ) Compliant in 2019 with EU limits but a number of exceedances of WHO guideline values in urban areas (EPA, 2020c). Increased monitoring is highlighting high levels in many Irish cities, towns and villages. Particulate matter from the burning of solid fuel is estimated to cause 1300 premature deaths per year. Low-smoke zones and climate action measures will have benefits for air quality and health. Nitrogen oxides (nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide) Concentrations are moderate but increasing due to growth in traffic numbers. EU air quality limit values for nitrogen dioxide were exceeded during 2019 at one site in Dublin (EPA, 2020c); indications are that there will be exceedences at further monitoring stations in the future. Climate action measures will have co-benefits for air quality and health. Ozone (ground level) Compliant in 2019 with EU limits but some exceedances of WHO guideline values in the past and exceedances at two sites in 2019 (EPA, 2020c). Measures to reduce nitrogen oxides will impact the potential for formation of ozone in sunny weather conditions. There is a risk from impact of transboundary ozone (from outside Ireland). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are emitted residentially from the combustion of solid fuels, such as peat, wood and coal. PAH are known carcinogens. Compliant in 2019 with EU limits but exceedances of EEA reference values at four sites indicate that PAH in ambient air are due to the burning of solid fuels is a large problem in Ireland’s cities and towns (EPA, 2020c). Low-smoke zones and climate action measures will have benefits for air quality and health. 409