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Project title

Mobile Air Monitoring in Agricultural Settings

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)

Lead Applicant

Eoin McGillicuddy

Project Abstract

Air quality is a vital aspect of human health. Numerous air pollutants are linked with anthropogenic activity with a significant portion originating from agriculture. These pollutants include bioaerosols, particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides and ammonia (NH3) among others and have been heavily linked with health concerns and in the secondary formation of deleterious compounds and aerosols. Bioaerosols can be both infectious and non-infectious, and exposure occurs daily, and contributes to PM. Bioaerosol-associated diseases can spread readily through the population. The primary people affected are farmers and their families, followed by the general public. PM is conventionally monitored in fine and coarse size factions, with the terms PM2.5 and PM10 referring to particulate matter smaller than 2.5 and 10 microns respectively. Bioaerosols classified as disease agents commonly occur locally from particles with a diameter of ≤5 microns. PM can be further defined by the pathway it enters the atmosphere, with primary PM referring to direct release to the atmosphere, and secondary PM which is formed in the atmosphere through chemical reactions. In this regard the contribution of bioaerosols to primary aerosols and ammonia to the fine particulate matter fraction through secondary aerosol formation is underdeveloped in an Irish context. NH3 emissions are one of the key challenges to agricultural expansion in Ireland. By the end of 2022, total cattle numbers were approx. 7.4 million, while the number of pigs was 1.6 million and increasing. The number of poultry produced stands around 70 million annually, with the majority (approx. 71%) being in the Border region. Ireland is committed to the EU National Emissions Ceilings Directive (2016/2284/EU), which sets emissions reduction targets for five important air pollutants, NH3 and PM2.5 among them. These pollutants contribute to poor air quality, leading to significant negative impacts on human health and the environment. Ireland is obliged to reduce emissions by 1% per year compared to 2005 levels in the years until 2029 and 5% annually thereafter. By the same directive, Ireland is obliged to reduce PM2.5 by 18% compared to 2005 levels until 2029 and 41% annually thereafter. A reduction in ammonia would also lead to reduction in ambient PM2.5 levels. Similarly, understanding the contribution of bioaerosols to PM in the atmosphere will elucidate its composition and size regime in rural settings. MAMALS will fill these gaps in our knowledge by determining the concentrations of both PM, the size fractions and the trace gases present in the atmosphere. This will be achieved using state-of-art instruments measuring gas and particle pollutants in real-time at location. These measurements will be used to attribute and map the pollutants to their source. MAMALS will quantify ambient atmospheric pollutants in much higher detail to any measurements carried out to date examining agricultural emission in Ireland. This novel undertaking using a mobile laboratory will facilitate for high precision source apportionment of air pollutants and is compatible with our national policies on sustainability, climate change and clean air.

Grant Approved

€658,728.08

Research Hub

Delivering a Healthy Environment

Research Theme

Towards Zero Pollution

Start Date

31/03/2025

Initial Projected Completion Date

30/03/2029