Date released: August 22, 2022
22nd August 2022: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce today launched the Clean Air Together (Cork City) Citizen Science project, to gather new data on the quality of the air in Cork City. We are looking for 1,000 citizens in Cork City to measure air pollution in their local area. This project follows the success of phase one of the Clean Air Together project, carried out in Dublin last year.
EPA Senior Scientist David Fenton said:
“We are delighted to be bringing this exciting project to Cork City to measure nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - a major traffic pollutant which is known to be harmful. By taking part in this Clean Air Together project, you will measure NO2 is in your area and your measurement - together with all of the other data collected - will give us a detailed picture of air pollution in Cork City. Participation in the project is open to everyone who is a resident of Cork City. You can visit www.cleanairtogether.ie to find out more information and register as a participant.”
Once registered and selected, a pack - which includes the tube together with simple instructions on how to install it - will be posted to you. The aim is to get 1,000 participants in Cork City to install their tubes on Monday 3rd October 2022 and leave them in place for approximately four weeks. The tube will measure the levels of nitrogen dioxide - without you even knowing that it is there. After approximately four weeks of measuring NO2 levels, the tube is posted back to the EPA, free of charge. The tube will be analysed, and results should be available early 2023.
Sabrina Moore Project Manager from An Taisce commented;
“The Clean Air Together project is a great opportunity for people of Cork city to become Citizen Scientists. The data from this project will contribute to scientific research by the EPA, but also can inform policy of Cork City Council to help improve the air we breathe. Measuring air pollution is very easy and your participation will help us to get a better picture of air pollution in Cork City, so why not apply by visiting www.cleanairtogether.ie”.
The results of the Clean Air Together project will also be used to inform Cork City Council’s Air Quality Strategy. Lord Mayor of Cork City, Councillor Deirdre Forde said;
“I am delighted to represent Cork City Council at the launch of this amazing Clean Air Together initiative, which highlights the importance of air quality in our City. This initiative also offers citizens the opportunity to directly engage in the collection of air quality information; thereby raising awareness of this matter and increasing community involvement in improving the quality of air that we breathe.”
A map showing the results will be published on the Clean Air Together website www.cleanairtogether.ie allowing you to compare your results to those in other parts of Cork City. These results can help inform Cork City Council Air Quality Strategy and may also be combined with existing EPA air quality results to give a better picture of NO2 levels in Cork City.
Further information: Emily Williamson, EPA Media Relations Office: 053-91 70770 (24 hours) and media@epa.ie.
Photos from the launch are also available from the EPA Media Relations Office.
Notes to Editor
Clean Air Together is a partnership project between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce. Details of the project are available at www.cleanairtogether.ie.
Clean Air Together Cork City follows a similar project in Dublin which took place in Autumn 2021 when over 1,000 Dublin residents measured NO2 levels in their local environment.
In July 2021, Cork City Council launched the Air Quality Strategy for Cork. The Clean Air Together Cork city project is targeting those areas defined in the administrative area of Cork City as set out in the Local Government Act 2019.
The results from the Clean Air Together Cork City project will help validate air quality models being developed through a major scientific project called Life Emerald. Life Emerald is a 3-year project that will improve the air quality information available to the public and policy makers in Ireland.
For further information on air pollution in Ireland visit the EPA at: https://airquality.ie/
To find out more about the work An Taisce’s Environmental Education Unit visit We Educate | An Taisce - The National Trust For Ireland.
For further information on Citizen Science in Ireland visit the EPA at: Citizen science | Environmental Protection Agency (epa.ie).
Clean Air Together is inspired by a similar citizen science air pollution campaign in Belgium called Curious Noses (CurieuzeNeuzen). This was Europe’s largest ever air pollution measurement project. Curious Noses was seen as a great success, with meaningful impacts for citizens, the scientific community and Belgian public-policy alike. More information is available on the Belgian project website curieuzeneuzen.be.
