Spring Air Bulletin Summary
Spring is a much-anticipated time of year for many after the rigours of winter. With spring comes longer days, greener fields and forests, and warmer temperatures with its dose of weather variability.
And of course, the dreaded pollen, dust transport episodes or agricultural fertilising leading to increases in Ammonia levels. In terms of air pollution, spring is possibly the most complicated season. Particulate matter (PM), lingering atmospheric contamination from winter heating, and increased use of fertilizers are some of the factors that can have a negative impact on air quality. What’s more, these pollutants react to increased sunlight, causing chemical reactions.
The good news is that, with the typical spring weather variability, air quality can improve as quickly as it deteriorates. In March we often have high pollution episodes due to the weather. Anticyclonic weather fronts lead to dry settled weather where pollutants tend to stick around, leading to higher Air Quality Index for Health (AQIH) levels.
Air Quality Bulletin March 2026 |
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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 table below shows the number of exceedances in 2026 to 31/03/26. This data is provisional and subject to future revision following any further data validation. Some of the exceedances may have been caused by short‑term local events, such as roadworks, idling vehicles etc. |
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Further details: https://www.airquality.ie/information/air-quality-bulletins or email airquality@epa.ie |
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Station Name |
PM10 Days> 50 micrograms per cubed meter |
dates of exceedances |
NO2 > 200 micrograms per cubed meter |
|
Lucan, Co. Dublin |
4 |
28/02/26, 07/03/26, 08/03/26, *20/03/26 |
0 |
|
Ennis, Co. Clare |
3 |
03/01/26, 04/01/26, 22/01/26 |
N/A |
|
Ringsend, D4 |
3 |
03/03/26, 04/03/26, *20/03/26 |
0 |
|
Tralee, Co. Kerry |
3 |
03/01/26, 04/01/26, 05/01/26 |
N/A |
| Wexford Opera House |
2 |
17/01/26, *20/03/26 |
N/A |
|
Cork, Glanmire Road |
1 |
*20/03/26 |
0 |
|
Drogheda, Co. Louth |
1 |
*20/03/26 |
N/A |
|
Edenderry, Co. Offaly |
1 |
*20/03/26 |
0 |
|
Malin Head |
1 |
*21/03/26 |
N/A |
|
Amiens Street, D1 |
0 |
|
0 |
|
Athlone, Co. Westmeath |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Ballinasloe, Co. Galway |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Ballyfermot, D10 |
0 |
|
0 |
| Birr, Co. Offaly | 0 |
|
0 |
|
Blanchardstown, D15 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Bray, Co. Wicklow |
0 |
|
0 |
| Briarhill, Galway | 0 |
|
0 |
|
Carlow Town |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Carrick-on- Shannon, Leitrim |
0 |
|
0 |
|
Castlebar (Gravimetric PM) |
0 |
|
0 |
|
Cavan Town |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Claremorris, Co. Mayo |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Clonmel, Co. Tipperary |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Clonskeagh, D14 |
0 |
N/A |
|
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Cobh Leisure Centre |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Cork Airport |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Cork Harbour (Cobh) |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Cork, Heatherton Park |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Cork, South Link Road |
0 |
|
0 |
|
Cork UCC |
0 |
|
0 |
|
Davitt Road, D12 |
0 |
|
0 |
|
Dublin Airport Authority |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Dublin Port, D1 |
0 |
|
0 |
|
Dún Laoghaire |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Dundalk, Co. Louth |
0 |
|
0 |
|
Emo, Co. Laois |
N/A |
|
0 |
|
Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Eyre Square, Galway |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Finglas, D11 |
0 |
|
0 |
|
Greystones, Co. Wicklow |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Kilkenny, Seville Lodge |
0 |
|
0 |
|
Kilkitt, Co. Monaghan (Gravimetric PM) |
0 |
|
0 |
|
Killarney, Co. Kerry |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Leixlip, Co. Kildare |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Letterkenny, Co. Donegal |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Limerick, Henry St. |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Limerick, Peoples Park |
0 |
|
0 |
|
Longford Town |
0 |
N/A |
|
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Macroom, Co. Cork |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Mallow, Co. Cork |
0 |
|
0 |
| Marino, D3 |
0 |
N/A |
|
|
Naas, Co. Kildare |
0 |
N/A |
|
|
Navan, Co. Meath |
0 |
0 |
|
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Phoenix Park, D8 (Gravimetric PM) |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Portlaoise, Co. Laois |
0 |
|
0 |
|
Rahoon Road, Galway (Gravimetric PM) |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Rathmines, D6 (Gravimetric PM) |
0 |
|
0 |
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Roscommon Town |
0 |
N/A |
|
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Shannon Estuary, Askeaton |
0 |
|
N/A |
| Sligo |
0 |
0 |
|
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St. Anne’s, Park D5 |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
St. John’s Road West, D8 |
0 |
0 | |
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Swords, Co. Dublin |
0 |
|
0 |
|
Tallaght, D24 |
0 |
|
0 |
| Tipperary Town |
0 |
N/A |
|
| Valentia, Co. Kerry | N/A | N/A | |
| Waterford, Merchants Quay | 0 | 0 | |
|
Waterford, Paddy Browne's Road |
0 |
0 |
|
| Wexford, Carnsore Point |
0 |
|
N/A |
| Winetavern Street, D8 (Gravimetric PM) | 0 | 0 | |
| N/A=parameter is not monitored at this station | |||
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*Note: The decline in air quality on 20 and 21 March 2026 occurred due to stagnant weather conditions, which allowed fine particulate matter from across the continent to accumulate. |
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