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 2025

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 2025 to 31/03/25. 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

NO2 > 200 micrograms per cubed meter

Ennis, Co. Clare

7

02/01/25, 03/01/25, 07/01/25, 08/01/25, 11/01/25, 05/02/25, 07/02/25

N/A

Ringsend, D4

3

 06/02/25, 12/02/25, 13/02/25

0

Tralee, Co. Kerry

2

02/01/25, 07/02/25

N/A

Wexford Opera House

2

31/01/25, 05/02/25

N/A

Blanchardstown, D15

1

31/03/25

0

Edenderry, Co. Offaly

1

11/01/25

0

Longford Town

1

08/01/25

N/A

Tipperary Town

1

03/01/25

N/A

Amiens Steet, D1

0

 

0

Athlone, Co. Westmeath

0

 

N/A

Ballinasloe, Co. Galway

0

 

N/A

Ballyfermot, D10

0

 

0

Birr, Co. Offaly 0

 

0

Bray, Co. Wicklow

0

 

N/A

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

Cobh Leisure Centre

0

 

N/A

Cork Airport

0

 

N/A

Cork, Glanmire Road

0

 

0

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

 

N/A

Drogheda, Co. Louth

0

 

N/A

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

 

N/A

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

Lucan, Co. Dublin

0

 

0

Mace Head

N/A

 

N/A

Macroom, Co. Cork

0

 

N/A

Malin Head

0

 

N/A

Mallow, Co. Cork

0

 

0

Marino, D3

0

 

N/A

MTU Bishopstown, Cork

0

 

0

Naas, Co. Kildare

0  

N/A

Navan, Co. Meath

0

 

0

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

Roscommon Town

0

 

N/A

Shannon Estuary, Askeaton

0

 

N/A

St. Anne’s, Park D5

0

 

N/A

St. John’s Road West, D8

0

  0

Swords, Co. Dublin

0

 

0

Tallaght, D24

0

 

0

Valentia, Co. Kerry N/A   N/A
Waterford Port 0   0

Waterford, Paddy Browne's Road

0

 

0

Wexford Carnsore Point

N/A

 

0

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

                                                      

Air Bulletins for PM10, nitrogen oxides & ozone in 2023 Annual Air Quality Bulletin 2023

in: Air Quality
Air Bulletin in Ireland 2023

Exceedances in key pollutants in 2023

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 2023.

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