Date released: March 03, 2025
3 March 2025: In October 2024, more than 400 citizen scientists measured levels of the harmful air pollutant, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), in Limerick’s Metropolitan District area as part of the Clean Air Together Limerick City project. A public event was hosted in Limerick this evening to present the results of the study to the people in Limerick. This large-scale citizen science project was led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with Limerick City and County Council.
Commenting on the project, Dr Micheál Lehane, EPA Director, said:
“Clean Air Together Limerick City is a great success story, with over 400 citizen scientists in the city measuring the levels of traffic pollution in their local areas. This campaign has provided an incredibly useful snapshot of nitrogen dioxide levels in Limerick and has given us important data about this air pollutant, in addition to information from the EPA’s existing air quality monitoring network. We simply couldn’t have completed this project without Limerick city’s citizen scientists, and it is wonderful to see the commitment of the people of Limerick city to their local environment”.
Nitrogen dioxide levels across Limerick were generally low, with 73 per cent of study results falling in the lowest NO2 category (0-10 µg/m3). 25 per cent of results were in the next lowest NO2 category (10-20 μg/m3). Higher levels of NO2 were found near busy roads and in the city centre which can be expected as NO2 comes mainly from traffic.
Mayor of Limerick, John Moran added,
“The need for clean air is fundamental to the health of citizens in Limerick. The interest in Clean Air Together Limerick City has shown people’s awareness of the importance of good air quality. The project provides an indication of the potential impact on citizens health and well- being from transport systems in the Limerick Metropolitan Area and in that regard my Mayoral Programme is committed to positive action. Key to this are a number of strategies and plans including our Local Authority Climate Action Plan 2024-2029 and the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy which will have a significant positive impact providing sustainable options for active travel and actions that support a climate resilient society.”
The information gathered through Clean Air Together will now be used by the EPA to assist with its air quality modelling and forecasting. The information will be used by Limerick City and County Council to further enhance their baseline data for the city to measure all future air quality, building on valuable work to date.
All results from the Clean Air Together project are available on the Clean Air Together project site.
ENDS
Further information: Emily Williamson, EPA Media Relations Office 053-9170770 (24 hours) or media@epa.ie
Photos from the live event on Wednesday 26th February will be available from the EPA Media Relations Office also.
Notes to Editor
Summary of results
The results show the impact of traffic on nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution levels: higher NO2 levels are linked with higher traffic volumes. All results are available on the Clean Air Together project website.
On the map, 73 per cent of samples are in the lowest category for NO2, shown as dark blue dots.
Higher NO2 results are represented as yellow dots (2 per cent of samples). These are mostly present in the city centre and along some of the major roads in Limerick City. Moving outwards to the suburbs and away from major roads, the lower levels of NO2 (light blue) are found. Most of the lowest results (dark blue dots) can be found further away on the outer suburbs of Limerick’s Metropolitan District area.
The results fall into the following categories:
At 7 out of 10 locations sampled, NO2 levels fall into the lowest category. As expected, this includes locations outside the urban centre and in less trafficked parts of Limerick. Most other locations had measurements which fell in the 10-20 µg/m3category. These two categories accounted for 98 per cent of the study’s results (light blue and dark blue dots). 2 per cent of the results are above 20 µg/m3. The highest NO2 levels were found by busy roads and in the city centre:
This campaign in Limerick’s Metropolitan District area follows similar and successful campaigns in Dublin (2021), Cork City (2022) and Galway City (2023). A fifth campaign is being planned in Waterford city for later in 2025.
Air Quality Monitoring
The EPA continually monitors air quality across Ireland and provides the Air Quality Index for Health and real-time results online at www.airquality.ie. Results are updated hourly, and people can check at any time whether the current air quality is good, fair, or poor.
Air quality is assessed through the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme. The programme comprises the EPA, working with local authorities and other public bodies, has established 115 air monitoring stations, 2 of which are in Limerick City. Monitoring data from these stations is available in real time on the website www.airquality.ie and the data is used to inform national policy and meet Irelands commitments to European reporting.
The results of Clean Air Together (Limerick City) are an indication of the level of NO2 measured at particular locations in Limerick’s Metropolitan District area in October 2024. NO2 levels can vary considerably over the year with changing traffic volumes and weather conditions. Therefore, the results should be viewed as a snapshot, representative of the NO2 levels in October 2024 and not an annual average of NO2.
What is Nitrogen Dioxide?
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a gas emitted by traffic and is the main pollutant of concern from traffic pollution. NO2 can have negative impacts on respiratory and cardiovascular health. NO2 irritates the airways of the lungs and can increase symptoms of those suffering from lung diseases.
The results of Clean Air Together Limerick City represent a one-month indicative snapshot of NO2 levels in Limerick’s Metropolitan District area and are not directly comparable to the annual average EU limit for NO2 but do indicate locations where additional focus may be needed. It is the EPA’s view that Ireland and Europe should move towards achieving the health-based WHO air quality guidelines over time which are stricter than the current air quality standards for Europe. Comprehensive information on NO2, air quality and the air quality standards for Ireland is available at www.airquality.ie
How was Nitrogen Dioxide measured in the Clean Air Together project? [See demonstration video here: Clean Air Together – Tube Installation and Sharing Your Data (youtube.com)]
Nitrogen dioxide is measured using a measurement tube called a diffusion tube, which is a small plastic tube about the size of a lip stick tube. The bottom white cap of the tube is removed to let air pass through during the measurement period. A special substance is contained in the upper grey cap that can absorb NO2. The small tube is placed on the outside of window of the participant’s properties and left in place for approximately a four-week period. Once the measurement period is over, air sampling is stopped by closing off the tube with the white cap and the tube is then returned by post for lab analysis.
Limerick City and County Council – Action for a healthier city
The need for clean air is fundamental to the health of citizens in Limerick. The Mayoral Programme: More for Limerick 2024-2029 focuses on interventions to prioritise quality of life in Limerick, with that commitment outlined in a number of strategies and plans.
Limerick’s Local Authority Climate Action Plan 2024-2029 provides a comprehensive range of measures to mitigate against and adapt to climate change. They include commitments to increase the level of air quality monitoring as well as the use of citizen science/living lab projects to not only monitor air quality but also to actively improve air quality across the Limerick. Specific projects will support these actions such as the proposed Decarbonisation Zone concentrated on the Georgian core and proposed Colbert Quarter.
The Limerick City and Environs Blue and Green Infrastructure Strategy sets out priority actions to develop a network of natural and semi-natural spaces that support a climate resilient society e.g. investigating the feasibility of developing an integrated network of blue and green spaces forming a circuitous route around Limerick City connecting the city and its neighbourhoods – the Blue Green Ring.
The implementation of the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy 2040 (LSMATS) is anticipated to have a very significant positive impact on air quality, a core element being to reduce emissions from transport by 50% by 2030. Limerick City and County Council’s (LCCC) Active Travel department’s aim is to provide the infrastructure required to ensure people can begin using more sustainable modes of transport – such as walking and cycling – as part of their journeys. The Active Travel team has already delivered a number of key projects - for example the Castletroy Urban Greenway; the Childers Road and Father Russell Road Active Travel Schemes. It is expected further important projects currently on site such as the Mill Road Active Travel Scheme in Corbally and the R510 Raheen to Quinn’s Cross Active Travel Scheme will be completed in 2025.
Access to healthy green space is also essential for citizens in Limerick. For example, LCCC is developing Integrated Action Plans (IAP) as part of the GreenPlace and BiodiverCity projects (co-financed by the EU under the URBACT IV Program) in partnership with communities and stakeholders for green spaces in Limerick City that currently lack amenity value. Restoring forgotten urban spaces and making them friendly to residents and the environment by optimising the use of existing resources. These projects promote connection with nature, active lifestyles, community engagement and enhance biodiversity and demonstrate the Council’s commitment to innovation and partnership for positive environmental change.”
Where’s next?
Later this year Clean Air Together will be moving to Waterford City – so watch this space if you’re a resident in Waterford City and wish to become a participant!
Clean Air Together
Clean Air Together is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) led project, in partnership with the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce and the relevant local authority in the area. Details of the project are available at www.cleanairtogether.ie and on the EPA website.