Air Bulletin Summary

In late Summer with warmer temperatures comes increased pollen and episodes of transport dust that can lead to higher particulate matter PM10 levels and agricultural fertilising can lead to increases in Ammonia levels. In summer, pollutants such as Nitric Oxide (NOx) and Volatile Organic Carbons (VOCs) from vehicle exhausts and industrial emissions react with increased temperatures and sunlight to form Ozone (O3). At ground level, Ozone can trigger a variety of health and environmental problems particularly in those with underlying health issues and areas with sensitive ecosystems. The good news is that, with the typical weather variability and given our rainy summer in 2023, air quality can improve as quickly as it deteriorates. At this time of year we often have high pollution episodes due to the weather which can result in elevated levels of Ozone (O3). Anticyclonic weather fronts lead to dry settled weather where pollutants tend to stick around, leading to higher Air Quality Index for Health (AQIH) levels. In August monitoring stations showed compliance with the limit values for O3 (Ozone), however there was one exceedance for PM10.

 

Air Quality Bulletin 2023

The daily limit for PM10 is 50 micrograms per cubed meter. The limit is deemed breached if more than 35 exceedances occur during the year. The health information daily threshold for Ozone (O3) is 120 micrograms per cubed meter. Any exceedances of this threshold must be notified to the public. The table below shows the number of exceedances in 2023 up to 31/08/2023. This data is provisional and subject to future revision following any further data validation.

Further details:  https://www.airquality.ie/information/air-quality-bulletins or email airquality@epa.ie 

Station Name

PM10 Days> 50 micrograms per cubed meter

dates of exceedances

O3 > 120 micrograms per cubed meter

Ennis, Co. Clare

7

15/1/23,16/1/23,19/1/23,26/1/23,27/1/23, 4/2/23,29/05/23

N/A

Waterford, Merchants Quay

3

14/04/23,10/05/23,11/05/23

0

Bray, Co. Wicklow

2

19/04/23, 22/05/23, 13/06/23

1

Longford Town

2

1/1/23,16/1/23

N/A

Athlone, Co Westmeath

1

16/1/23

N/A

Edenderry, Co. Offaly

1

20/1/23

N/A

Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford

1

20/1/23

N/A

Mallow, Co. Cork

1

 30/08/23

0

Rathmines, D6(Gravimetric)

1

 09/06/23

N/A

Tralee, Co. Kerry

1

27/1/23

N/A

Wexford Opera House

1

5/2/23

N/A

Ballyfermot, D10

0

 

N/A

Birr, Co. Offaly

0

 

N/A

Blanchardstown, D15

0

 

N/A
Briarhill, Galway 0

 

N/A

Carlow Town

0

 

N/A

Carnsore

N/A

17/06/23

1

Carrick-on- Shannon, Leitrim

0

 

N/A

Castlebar (Gravimetric)

0

 

0

Cavan Town

0

 

N/A

Claremorris, Co. Mayo

0

 

N/A

Clonmel, Co.Tipperary

0

 

N/A

Clonskeagh, D14

0

 

0

Cobh Leisure Centre

0

 

N/A

Cork Airport

0

 

N/A

Cork Harbour (Cobh)

0

 

N/A

Cork UCC

0

 

0

Cork, Glanmire Road

0

 

0

Cork, Heatherton Park

0

 

N/A

Cork, South Link Road

0

 

0

Davitt Road, D12

0

 

N/A

Drogheda, Co. Louth

0

 

N/A

Dublin Airport Authority

0

 

0

Dublin Port, D1

0

 

N/A

Dún Laoghaire

0

 

N/A

Dundalk, Co. Louth

0

 

N/A

Emo, Co. Laois

0

15/06/23

1

Eyre Square, Galway

0

 

N/A

Finglas, D11

0

 

N/A

Greystones, Co. Wicklow

0

 

N/A

Kilkenny, Seville Lodge

0

13/06/23, 14/06/23, 15/06/23

3

Kilkitt, Co. Monaghan

0

13/06/23, 14/06/23, 15/06/23, 16/06/23

4

Killarney, Co. Kerry

0

 

N/A

Leixlip, Co. Kilkdare

0

 

N/A

Letterkenny, Co. Donegal

0

 

N/A

Limerick, Henry St.

0

 

0

Limerick, Peoples Park

0

 

0

Lucan, Co. Dublin

0

 

N/A

Mace Head

N/A

 

0

Macroom, Co. Cork

0

 

N/A

Malin Head

N/A

16/06/23, 17/06/23

2

Marino, D3

0

 

N/A

MTU Bishopstown, Cork

0

 

0

Naas, Co. Kildare

0

 

N/A

Navan, Co. Meath

0

 

N/A

Phoenix Park, D8 (Gravimetric)

0

 

N/A

Portlaoise

0

 

N/A

Rahoon Road, Galway

0

 

N/A

Ringsend, D4

0

 

N/A

Roscommon

0

 

N/A

Shannon Estuary

0

 

N/A

St. Anne’s, Park D5

0

 

N/A

St. John’s Road West, D8

0

   N/A

Swords, Co. Dublin

N/A

13/06/23

1

Tallaght, D24

0

 

N/A

Tipperary Town

0

 

N/A

Valentia

N/A

08/06/23, 09/06/23

2

Waterford Paddy Browne’s Road

0

13/06/23, 14/06/23

2
Winetavern Street, D8 (Gravimetric) 0   N/A
N/A=parameter is not monitored at this station      

                                                      

Air Bulletins for PM, nitrogen oxides & ozone - Annual AQ Bulletin 2022

in: Air Quality
Air Bulletin in Ireland 2022

Exceedances in key pollutants in 2022

The daily limit for PM10 is 50 ug/m3. The limit is deemed breached if more than 35 exceedances occur during the year. The hourly limit for NO2 is 200 ug/m3. The limit is deemed breached if more than 18 exceedances occur during the year. The health information daily threshold for Ozone is 120 ug/m3. Any exceedances of this threshold must be notified to the public. The tables show the number of exceedances at stations in Ireland based on available data to 31st December 2022

Irish sky in Cavan 2022
Air Bulletin in Ireland 2021

Exceedances in key pollutants in 2021

This assessment is based on monitoring data collected from the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network during the year 2021

circle of traffic Dublin
Air Bulletin in Ireland 2020

Exceedances in key pollutants in 2020

This assessment is based on monitoring data collected from the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network during the year 2020

photo of clear sky with clouds
Air Bulletin in Ireland 2019

Exceedances in key pollutants in 2019

This assessment is based on monitoring data collected from the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network during the year 2019

girl on bike
Air Bulletin in Ireland 2018

Exceedances in key pollutants in 2018

This assessment is based on monitoring data collected from the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network during the year 2018