Air Bulletin Summary

Ground-level ozone (O3) levels periodically peak during the summer as it is formed through a combination of heat and sunlight reacting with nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This is particularly concerning when it comes to ozone’s effects on health, especially since more than 98% of the European Union (EU) population is exposed to ozone levels higher than those recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

In Ireland, there are different rural and urban effects of ozone.

Ozone concentrations rise due to chemical reactions between ozone precursors in the presence of sunlight. This can lead to higher levels in the summer and afternoon. High levels of ozone precursors (NOx and VOCs) in built-up urban areas in towns and cities lead to an effect known as ozone scavenging which causes ozone levels to drop again.

In rural areas NOx and VOCs being present and reacting with sunlight, leads to increases in ozone levels. Ozone levels are often highest in Ireland along the west and south coasts in rural areas in the summer.

 

Air Quality Bulletin April 2024

The daily limit for PM10 is 50 ug/m3. The limit is deemed breached if more than 35 exceedances occur during the year. The hourly limit for Ozone is 120 ug/m3. The table below shows the number of exceedances in 2024 to 30/04/24.This data is provisional and subject to future revision following any further data validation.

Further details:  https://www.airquality.ie/information/air-quality-bulletins or email airquality@epa.ie 

Station Name

PM10 Days> 50 micrograms per cubed meter

dates of exceedances

O3 > 120 micrograms per cubed meter

Ennis, Co. Clare

6

06/01/24, 09/01/24, 13/01/24, 15/01/24, 17/01/24, 18/01/24

N/A

Tralee, Co. Kerry

5

06/01/24, 11/01/24, 15/01/24,16/01/24, 18/01/24

N/A

Longford Town

3

06/01/24, 07/01/24, 29/01/24

N/A

Amiens Steet, D1

3

08/03/24, 09/03/24, 30/04/24

N/A

Athlone, Co. Westmeath

2

06/01/24, 07/01/24

N/A

Edenderry, Co. Offaly

2

04/01/24, 07/01/24

N/A

Letterkenny, Co. Donegal

2

07/01/24, 24/02/24

N/A

Limerick, Peoples Park

2

06/01/24, 26/03/24

0

Rathmines, D6 (Gravimetric PM)

2

07/01/24, 09/03/24

0

Ringsend, D4

2

08/03/24, 09/03/24

N/A

Blanchardstown, D15

1

26/01/24

N/A

Clonskeagh, D14

1

09/03/24

0

Cork, Glanmire Road

1

16/01/24

0

Dún Laoghaire

1

09/03/24

N/A

Eyre Square, Galway

1

06/01/24

N/A

Limerick, Henry St.

1

06/01/24

0

Naas, Co. Kildare

1

07/01/24

N/A

Navan, Co. Meath

1

07/01/24

N/A

Portlaoise, Co. Laois

1

07/01/24

N/A

Roscommon Town

1

07/01/24

N/A

Waterford, Paddy Browne's Road

1

16/01/24

0

Ballinasloe, Co. Galway

0

 

N/A

Ballyfermot, D10

0

 

N/A
Birr, Co. Offaly 0

 

N/A

Bray, Co. Wicklow

0

 

0
Briarhill, Galway 0

 

N/A

Carlow Town

0

 

N/A

Carrick-on- Shannon, Leitrim

0

 

N/A

Castlebar (Gravimetric PM)

0

 

0

Cavan Town

0

 

N/A

Claremorris, Co. Mayo

0

 

N/A

Clonmel, Co. Tipperary

0

 

N/A

Cobh Leisure Centre

0

 

N/A

Cork Airport

0

 

N/A

Cork Harbour (Cobh)

0

 

N/A

Cork, Heatherton Park

0

 

N/A

Cork UCC

0

 

0

Cork, South Link Road

0

 

0

Davitt Road, D12

0

 

N/A

Drogheda, Co. Louth

0

 

N/A

Dublin Airport Authority

0

 

0

Dublin Port, D1

0

 

N/A

Dún Laoghaire

0

 

N/A

Dundalk, Co. Louth

0

 

N/A

Emo, Co. Laois

N/A

 

0

Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford

0

 

N/A

Finglas, D11

0

 

N/A

Greystones, Co. Wicklow

0

 

N/A

Kilkenny, Seville Lodge

0

 

0

Kilkitt, Co. Monaghan (Gravimetric PM)

0

 

0

Killarney, Co. Kerry

0

 

N/A

Leixlip, Co. Kildare

0

 

N/A

Lucan, Co. Dublin

0

 

N/A

Mace Head

N/A

 

0

Macroom, Co. Cork

0

 

N/A

Malin Head

0

 

0

Mallow, Co. Cork

0

 

0

Marino, D3

0

 

N/A

MTU Bishopstown, Cork

0

 

N/A

Phoenix Park, D8 (Gravimetric PM)

0

 

N/A

Rahoon Road, Galway (Gravimetric PM)

0

 

N/A

Shannon Estuary, Askeaton

0

 

N/A

St. Anne’s, Park D5

0

 

N/A

St. John’s Road West, D8

0

   N/A

Swords, Co. Dublin

0

 

0

Tallaght, D24

0

 

N/A
Tipperary Town

0

 

N/A
Valentia, Co. Kerry N/A   0
Waterford, Merchants Quay 0   N/A
Wexford Carnsore Point

N/A

 

0
Wexford Opera House

0

 

N/A
Winetavern Street, D8 (Gravimetric PM) 0   N/A
N/A=parameter is not monitored at this station      

                                                      

Air Bulletins for PM, nitrogen oxides & ozone - Annual AQ Bulletin 2023

in: Air Quality
Air Bulletin in Ireland 2022

Exceedances in key pollutants in 2022

The daily limit for PM10 is 50 ug/m3. The limit is deemed breached if more than 35 exceedances occur during the year. The hourly limit for NO2 is 200 ug/m3. The limit is deemed breached if more than 18 exceedances occur during the year. The health information daily threshold for Ozone is 120 ug/m3. Any exceedances of this threshold must be notified to the public. The tables show the number of exceedances at stations in Ireland based on available data to 31st December 2022

Irish sky in Cavan 2022
Air Bulletin in Ireland 2021

Exceedances in key pollutants in 2021

This assessment is based on monitoring data collected from the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network during the year 2021

circle of traffic Dublin
Air Bulletin in Ireland 2020

Exceedances in key pollutants in 2020

This assessment is based on monitoring data collected from the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network during the year 2020

photo of clear sky with clouds
Air Bulletin in Ireland 2019

Exceedances in key pollutants in 2019

This assessment is based on monitoring data collected from the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network during the year 2019

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Air Bulletin in Ireland 2018

Exceedances in key pollutants in 2018

This assessment is based on monitoring data collected from the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network during the year 2018