Concern has been raised with a sharp rise in ambient air pollution around Ennis.
Calm weather over the last few days has led to a rise in air pollution around the country. Air pollution monitoring is very sparse in Ireland compared to other European countries however the monitoring reported on the EPA website indicates that towns where significant quantities of smoky fuels are burnt are exceeding air pollution limits for particulates.
Particulate matter (PM10) concentrations in Ennis have been above daily limits for the past three consecutive days. Micheál Callaghan is the Green Party Spokesperson on the Environment and he told The Clare Herald that the burning of smoky fuels is a reason for the rise in air pollution this week.
“Although Ennis is supposedly a smoke control town, the air pollution data demonstrates that people there are burning smoky fuels. The same may be happening in Cork, but pollution from traffic, especially diesel vehicles is contributing also”.
Callaghan added “The EPA should immediately notify the public of this pollution episode and ask people not to burn smoky fuels. We also should take urgent steps to reduce the number of motor vehicles, especially diesels, accessing our towns.
The EPA reports that air pollution is responsible for 1,200 premature deaths every year in Ireland. According to the World Bank, air pollution costs Ireland €58 million every year in days lost at work. Air pollution is a serious health and quality of life issue that we can no longer afford to ignore.”