Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring

We are responsible for:

  • implementation of a range of legislation related to chemicals in the environment, with the aim of minimising the use and emissions, and raising awareness of a variety of hazardous chemicals in order to prevent significant impacts on the environment and human health.
  • the establishment and operation of the National Ecosystems Monitoring Network (NEMN) which will assess the impact of air pollutants on our native habitats such as raised and blanket bogs and freshwater habitats
  • providing advice and information about radon, carrying out research to better understand the behaviour of radon in the environment and supporting the Government in implementing Ireland’s National Radon Control Strategy
  • developing and supporting citizen science projects that support the important areas of clean air, clean water and sustainable behaviour
  • providing advice and information on public exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) such as EMF produced by electrical and mobile telecommunications equipment
  • coordinating, supervising and advising Local Authorities in producing noise maps and noise actions plans, for their areas, required under the Environmental Noise Directive (END)

 

  • We have four water testing laboratories located in Castlebar, Dublin, Kilkenny and Monaghan
  • We work with other EPA teams and Local Authorities to carry out water chemistry tests in over 700 rivers and streams, over 200 lakes, 270 groundwaters and 85 transitional and coastal water bodies in Ireland
  • We work with colleagues in the Office of Environmental Enforcement to audit and monitor discharges from licensed facilities including factories, landfill sites and waste-water treatment plants
  • We have a radiation testing laboratory located in Dublin
  • We undertake routine monitoring of ambient radioactivity in the Irish environment including air, drinking water, soil, food and the marine
  • We provide a calibration service to industry for radiation measuring instruments and based on monitoring provide certificates to show that the radioactivity content of Irish foodstuffs and other produce is below the requirements of the importing country.
  • We monitor air pollutant levels at 90 locations and provide this information to the public via the Air Quality Index for Health (AQIH) on www.epa.ie/ www.airquality.ie and via twitter @epaairquality
  • We compare, assess and report on air pollutant levels relative to EU limit values and the World Health Organisation (WHO) guideline values.
  • We are increasing Irelands capacity and capability to model Irelands air quality and are leading the LIFE EMERALD project to provide an air quality forecast and an air quality nowcast.