During wintertime, the choices made in home heating have impacts on our local air quality. Fuel combustion emits pollutants into the air, and open fires burning solid smoky fuel are the most polluting. Periods of cold, still weather such as we had in February can lead to increasing concentrations of air pollutants in our towns and villages.
In February there were exceedances in several towns, however the majority of monitoring stations showed compliance with the limit values for PM10 and NO2.
The colder weather can encourage more of us to jump in our cars rather than brave the journey on foot or bicycle. More cars on the road means more emissions. And though you may expect you would be protected from these emissions whilst inside the vehicle, studies suggest that concentrations of pollutants inside cars can be more than that outside the car. This is because while car air filtration systems are relatively good at screening out larger particles, small particles and gases are still able to find their way in; meaning exhaust emissions recirculate and accumulate within the confined space.
Air Quality Bulletin February 2024 |
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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 2024 up to 29/02/2024. This data is provisional and subject to future revision following any further data validation. |
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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 |
|
Ennis, Co. Clare |
6 |
06/01/24, 09/01/24, 13/01/24, 15/01/24, 17/01/24, 18/01/24 |
N/A |
|
Tralee, Co. Kerry |
5 |
06/01/24, 11/01/24, 15/01/24,16/01/24, 18/01/24 |
N/A |
|
Longford Town |
3 |
06/01/24, 07/01/24, 29/01/24 |
N/A |
|
Athlone, Co. Westmeath |
2 |
06/01/24, 07/01/24 |
N/A |
|
Edenderry, Co. Offaly |
2 |
04/01/24, 07/01/24, 01/02/24 (NO2x2) |
2 |
|
Letterkenny, Co. Donegal |
2 |
07/01/24, 24/02/24 |
N/A |
|
Blanchardstown, D15 |
1 |
26/01/24 |
0 |
|
Cork, Glanmire Road |
1 |
16/01/24 |
0 |
|
Eyre Square, Galway |
1 |
06/01/24 |
0 |
|
Limerick, Henry St. |
1 |
06/01/24 |
0 |
|
Limerick, Peoples Park |
1 |
06/01/24 |
0 |
|
Naas, Co. Kildare |
1 |
07/01/24 |
N/A |
|
Navan, Co. Meath |
1 |
07/01/24 |
0 |
|
Portlaoise, Co. Laois |
1 |
07/01/24 |
0 |
|
Rathmines, D6 (Gravimetric PM) |
1 |
07/01/24 |
0 |
|
Roscommon Town |
1 |
07/01/24 |
N/A |
|
Waterford, Paddy Browne's Road |
1 |
16/01/24 |
0 |
|
Amiens Street, D1 |
0 |
|
0 |
|
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) |
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 Harbour (Cobh) |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Cork, Heatherton Park |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Cork UCC |
0 |
|
0 |
|
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 |
|
0 |
|
Dún Laoghaire |
0 |
|
0 |
|
Dundalk, Co. Louth |
0 |
|
0 |
|
Emo, Co. Laois |
N/A |
|
0 |
|
Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Finglas, D11 |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Greystones, Co. Wicklow |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Kilkenny, Seville Lodge |
0 |
|
0 |
|
Kilkitt, Co. Monaghan |
0 |
|
0 |
|
Killarney, Co. Kerry |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Leixlip, Co. Kildare |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Lucan, Co. Dublin |
0 |
|
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 |
|
Phoenix Park, D8 (Gravimetric) |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Rahoon Road, Galway |
0 |
|
N/A |
|
Ringsend, D4 |
0 |
|
0 |
|
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 |
| Tipperary Town |
0 |
|
N/A |
| Waterford, Merchants Quay | 0 | 0 | |
| Wexford Opera House |
0 |
|
N/A |
| Winetavern Street, D8 (Gravimetric) | 0 | 0 | |
| N/A=parameter is not monitored at this station | |||
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