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Project title

Air quality and acidification linked to transboundary pollution - Analytical Chemistry

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Dublin City University (DCU)

Lead Applicant

Wasim Bashir

Project Abstract

Concerns in the United Nations Economic Commissionfor Europe (UNECE) area with respect to theenvironmental impacts of acidifying species have resultedin a series of international agreements to reduceemissions of such species. Most recently these haveculminated in the targets established under theGothenburg Protocol. The Gothenburg targets have alsobeen introduced into EU legislation through the NationalEmission Ceilings (NEC) Directive.The European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme(EMEP) network established in the 1970s under theUNECE provides the structure for development ofscientific understanding of emissions and their impacts.EMEP also acts as the co-ordinating body formeasurements of ambient levels of key pollutants acrossEurope.Since the 1980s considerable progress has beenreported in Europe and nationally on reductions of sulphurspecies. These emissions reductions have resulted inreduced ambient sulphur dioxide (SO2) and sulphate(SO42i-) levels over Ireland. The greatest reductions areseen in SO2-S levels for which an average decrease of0.036 g mi-3 per annum has been observed. Thisamounts to a decrease of about 60% in ambient SO2levels during the measurement period.The reduction in ambient SO4-S levels is less pronouncedat 0.019 g mi-3 per annum. Nevertheless this alsoamounts to a decrease of approximately 40% over themeasurement period. This analysis may be influenced bythe presence of natural SO42i- associated with sea sprayat the measurement location. The NO2-N data series isnot as extensive as that for the sulphur species. No trendis evident for the annual average data.Wind-sector analysis of the SO2-S and SO4-S data showsthat the highest concentrations of these species arecorrelated with winds coming from an easterly direction.These levels also displayed the greatest rate of decreaseover the measurement period. The SO2-S levelsobserved in air from westerly directions are alsodecreasing. This observation requires further analysis butis considered to be largely associated with reduced localemissions of SO2.The overall reductions in ambient SO2 and SO42i- levelsare considered to show the success of internationalactions in addressing the challenges of acidification.These reductions have positive consequences both interms of impacts on ecosystems and human health andon commercial crops and buildings.As SO42i- is a significant component of ambientparticulate matter (PM) the reduction of SO42i- levels willalso contribute towards the achievement of air qualitytargets for PM10 and PM2.5. However further significantreductions in acidifying species particularly nitrogenousspecies are required in order to meet current emissionstargets by the 2010 deadline.

Grant Approved

�155,116.60

Research Hub

Climate Change

Research Theme

Trans-Boundary Air Pollution/Short Life Climate Forcers

Start Date

17/11/2003

Initial Projected Completion Date

17/11/2006