Moving into autumn, the days are starting to get shorter and cooler and we spend more time indoors and our need for heating increases. Fuel combustion emits pollutants into the air, and open fires burning solid smoky fuel are the most polluting.
Additionally, the changing weather can encourage more of us to jump in our cars rather than brave the journey on foot or bicycle. More cars on the road means more emissions. And though you may expect you would be protected from these emissions whilst inside the vehicle, some studies suggest that concentrations of pollutants inside cars can be more than 15 times of that outside the car! This is because while car air filtration systems are relatively good at screening out larger particles, small particles and gases are still able to find their way in; meaning exhaust emissions recirculate and accumulate within the confined space.
Finally, a key autumnal event with the potential for emissions is Halloween. This often leads to some substantial increases in pollutant concentrations for short periods.
How the weather can affect air quality?
A key feature of our autumn weather is an increase in low pressure systems which brings lower temperatures, a greater frequency of high winds and more rain. Taking each of these in turn:
Air Quality Bulletin September 2024 |
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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 30/09/24. This data is provisional and subject to future revision following any further data validation. |
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Further details: https://www.airquality.ie/information/air-quality-bulletins or email airquality@epa.ie |
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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 |
4 |
06/01/24, 07/01/24, 29/01/24, 09/09/24 |
|
|
Amiens Steet, D1 |
3 |
08/03/24, 09/03/24, 30/04/24 |
N/A |
|
Ringsend, D4 |
3 |
08/03/24, 09/03/24, 10/05/24 |
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 |
|
Blanchardstown, D15 |
1 |
26/01/24 |
N/A |
|
Clonskeagh, D14 |
1 |
09/03/24 |
0 |
|
Cork, Glanmire Road |
1 |
16/01/24 |
0 |
|
Dublin Airport Authority |
1 |
04/07/24 |
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 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 | |||
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