Air Pollution in Cork City 2007Report

Executive Summary

This report describes air quality in Cork City through an assessment of the monitoring data generated by Cork City Council mostly for the calendar year 2006. For two of the parameters viz. suspended particulates (black smoke) and the old sulphur dioxide method, the monitoring year is 1 April 06 to 31 March 07. This means that the Report is not compiled until after the 31 March.

The pollutants are generated through fuel combustion in space heating, traffic, electricity generation and industry. They are the pollutants present in significant amounts in the air that could affect the well being of the city inhabitants and they are the pollutants chosen in other European cities to describe air quality.

Monitoring data for ozone, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide is accessed by the EPA through a modem link. This allows them to issue public warnings should any incident of high ozone occur and so comply with the EU Directive.

Standards and Health Effects

The standards that have been set by international bodies are part of a practical attainment strategy to progressively reduce air pollution and are not final ends or levels below which there is no effect. Standards have been revised and reduced over the years. The EU Directives in many instances specify limit attainment dates: for instance, the PM10 limit is to be reduced to one level by 2005 and to a lower level by 2010.

The American Cancer Society declares that no level of air pollution is safe. The concentration of any air pollutant should be kept as low as is practically possible.

The different air pollution parameters have different effects and mixtures of them may have an effect more than additive.

It is currently estimated that halving the fine particulate (PM10) concentrations alone in ambient air would increase average life expectancy by 1-11 months. Not smoking tobacco would increase life expectancy on average by about seven years.

Annual average particulate levels across the UK are about 22 ug/m3, and are about

27 ug/m3 in London. In Cork, average levels are about 16-19 ug/m3.

Reduction of Air Pollution

The main instrument for change is at EU level, regulating the emissions from motor industry, other sectors of industry and setting ambient levels.

National government legislation and tax incentives can be very effective as seen in the past for the reduction of smoke and lead in this country.

At a local level, strategies that help to reduce the number and length of car journeys, avoid urban sprawl, and promote alternatives can be effective. Convenient

communities where work, home, schools and shops are close together rather than being widely separated in zones could be encouraged along with clean efficient public transport, cycle and pedestrian friendly areas. Taxation incentives could encourage such policies and tolls or congestion charges.

Avoiding Air Pollution

People who experience difficulty with breathing during high pollution episodes should avoid vigorous outdoor activity to reduce exposure to PM and ozone.

Avoid walking near busy roads during rush hours and winter anticyclonic periods to reduce exposure to PM and other pollutants.

Indoor air pollution can at times reach higher levels than outdoor due to heating appliances, emissions from building products and from people. Sealing the home to conserve heat will contain pollutants also.

Compliance with Standards

While there is no safe level of air pollution, the following is the situation regarding

compliance with EU Standards.

There appears to be a small decreasing trend in concentrations in recent years.

(1). Suspended particulates reached about 90% of the EU limits in the past and have now reduced to about 10% of the limit due to the ban on the sale of coal.

These particles arise from the inefficient combustion of solid fuels and diesel.

Particulates affect the lungs, blacken buildings and reduce visibility.

(2). New monitoring parameters called PM 10 and PM 2.5 are now being used to monitor for particulates. These measure particulates less than 10 and 2.5 microns in diameter. Particulates of this size penetrate more deeply into the lungs and have more effect on health. Results from the gravimetric method indicate compliance at about 30 % of the EU annual mean limit.

(3). Sulphur dioxide levels were always quite low in Cork.

The first smokeless fuels increased levels but levels have now fallen again to previous values. The old method for monitoring is compliant at about 7% of the standard. The new method is at about the same level of compliance with the new standard. Sulphur is a contaminant in most types of fuel. Sulphur dioxide affects the lungs and corrodes materials.

(4). Nitrogen dioxide average values are about 40% of the mean limit. It arises from air being used as an oxidant in the high temperature combustion of fuel in space heating and traffic.It affects lungs, plants and buildings.

(5). Nitric oxide has no ambient standard because it is an intermediate in the oxidation sequence to nitrogen dioxide and has also less affect on the environment.

(6). Ozone levels were in compliance. There were 9 exceedances of the 8 hour running average while 25 are allowed.

Ozone levels can be strongly influenced by imported pollution and/or natural sunshine events.

Rural stations in Ireland have far higher levels than our urban station because nitric oxide reduces levels in cities. It is only in urban areas with extreme traffic densities and very high sunshine levels that a different series of reactions dominate to produce very high ozone levels. Ozone has always been present in ambient air but levels have increased due to pollution. It also arises due to diffusion downwards from the stratosphere. Ozone is an irritant to the respiratory system.

(7). Carbon monoxide levels are about 36% of the standard operative in 2005.

It arises from poor oxidation of fuel. It is toxic, reducing the supply of oxygen in the blood.

(8). Lead levels are about 4 % of the standard.

This is a major decrease from the 1980’s. Unleaded petrol is now the only type

available. It is a petrol additive to prevent “knock” and improve acceleration.

It is a cumulative poison affecting the nervous system.

(9). The new continuous monitor, in operation since March 2000, indicates benzene levels to be about 10% of the standard. Benzene derives mainly from traffic fuels.

It is a carcinogen.

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