EPA should be issuing warnings to vulnerable citizens
The Green Party today expressed concern at recent spike in ambient air pollution, coinciding with the cold weather. 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 (1), 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.
Green Party Spokesperson on the Environment, Michael Callaghan said today: “Particulate matter (PM10) concentrations in Enniscorthy (2) Ennis(3) and Cork(4) have been above daily limits for the last three days. 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.
“The EPA should immediately notify the public of this pollution episode and ask people not to burn smoky fuels. We call on Minister Naughten to ensure the speedy roll out of the ‘smoky fuel’ ban across the country. Ministers Naughten and Ross must also take urgent steps to reduce the number of motor vehicles, especially diesels, accessing our towns - or give local authorities the power to act if they won't.
“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. (5) Air pollution is a serious health and quality of life issue that we can no longer afford to ignore.”