THREE years after research conducted by scientists in UCC revealed that the level of air pollution in Killarney during the dark nights of winter was 10 times higher than during daylight hours, environmental watchdog An Taisce has warned that air quality in Ireland is deteriorating at an alarming rate.
Killarney was selected to be monitored for the UCC research as it was not one of the cities or towns included in the 1990 ban on the sale of smoky coal. In many cases, air pollution levels, due to the burning of solid fuels, exceed accepted EU limits and there have been reported links to respiratory diseases and cancer.
According to the UCC research, small particulate pollution levels at night time in Killarney far exceeded EU and World Health Organisation limits. Exposure can aggravate asthma or respiratory symptoms and constant exposure can eventually lead to respiratory issues or lung cancer.
The World Health Organisation estimates that exposure to small particulate matter can reduce life expectancy by several months.
A report released by An Taisce this weekend, based on research conducted in 2016, revealed that new EPA data shows that air pollution in Ireland is deteriorating and emissions of all five key air pollutants increased that year. Ammonia, nitrogen oxides and non-methane volatile organic compounds were, for the first time, above normal EU emissions levels.
An Taisce said 99 per cent of ammonia emissions in Ireland are as a result of the application of fertilisers, both animal manures and artificial nitrates. The organisation has asked Agriculture Minister, Michael Creed, if he will take personal responsibility for reversing the upsurge in ammonia pollution that his department has lobbied in favour of?
With nitrogen oxides, transport (41%) and agriculture (29.6%) were the largest Irish sources, according to An Taisce.
“What the EPA’s data shows clearly is the very real human costs of letting agriculture and transport special interests dominate our politics and endanger the health and well-being of thousands of Irish citizens, as well as adding billions to our healthcare costs,” a spokesperson said.
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