Air Quality
“Clean air is considered to be a basic requirement of human health and well-being. However, air pollution continues to pose a significant threat to health worldwide.” (WHO 2005)
Air quality is important because air contaminants can affect the health of humans. Contaminants that affect people in Ireland include gases that may accumulate indoors, such as radon, carbon monoxide and particulate matter from open fires. Outdoor pollution may arise from fuel emissions, for example from road traffic or from smoky coal use. Wildfires can also reduce air quality.
Departments of Public Health contribute to air quality in Ireland through working with:
- Environmental Protection Agency - who coordinate ambient (outdoor) Air Quality Monitoring and help reduce the health risks of Radon
- Met Eireann - when weather affects air quality by transporting air pollutants from a distance, e.g. volcanic ash, ozone
- Bord Gais - supporting strategies to reduce health risks of Carbon Monoxide exposure
- Emergency planning services - preparation for air quality risk assessment during emergencies
- Local authorities and other emergency services during air quality incidents
Departments of Public Health contribute to air quality improvements by:
- Submissions to Government Departments on Air Quality policy
- Developing position papers on relevant issues
- Development of a National Air Quality Index: Working with the EPA to develop the Air Quality Index for Health (AQIH).This includes advice to those at risk from air pollution on how to protect their health.
- Responding to breaches in air quality standards: We advise on the health risks related to significant breaches of air quality standards. These standards are set by legislation, such as in the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2011 or by agreement, for example, the radon reference levels.
- Risk assessment and advice in relation to serious air quality incidents: We assess health risks using evidence-based standards such as the WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines (2021) to people exposed to air pollution incidents and provide appropriate risk communications. Examples of such incidents include extensive fires which affect a community; indoor air pollution caused by sewer gases; exposure to high levels of radon.
- Development and implementation of a national strategy for Radon control: the National Radon Control Strategy is now in its implementation phase.
Air Quality Index for Health (AQIH) advice for “Poor” or “Very Poor” air quality:
| General population – advice for very poor air quality | Reduce physical exertion particularly outdoors, especially if you experience symptoms such as cough or sore throat. |
| Older people and those with heart and lung conditions | If you are older or have a heart or lung condition, you might avoid physical exertion on days with poor or very poor air quality. |
| Adults and children with asthma | If you (or your child) has asthma, you should make sure that you are taking your medication correctly. If you are unsure, ask your health care practitioner (your local doctor or pharmacist). You may notice that you have to use your inhaled reliever medication more. |
| Adults with heart and circulatory conditions | If you have heart and circulatory conditions, you should not change your treatment schedules based on advice provided by the AQIH. You should seek advice from your health care practitioner (your local doctor or pharmacist) if you need to. |
| (Elite and non-elite) athletes | If you are an athlete, even if you are not asthmatic, you may find you are not performing as well as you expect when levels of a certain air pollutant (ground-level ozone) cause poor or very poor air quality.You may notice that when you breathe deeply you feel some discomfort in your chest. This does not mean you are in any danger but it may be better if you do less exercise on these days. |
Additional Health Advice
At very high levels of air pollution, some people including healthy individuals, may experience a sore or dry throat, sore eyes or, in some cases, a tickly cough.
Adults and children with lung problems, adults with heart problems, and older people, should avoid strenuous physical activity. People with asthma may find they need to use their reliever inhaler more often.
Those with heart and circulatory conditions should not modify their treatment schedules except in line with a health practitioner’s advice. If necessary, contact your GP, consultants or local emergency room.
Further information about air pollution, including the current levels in your area, can be found on the EPA website
A variety of air pollutants have known or suspected harmful effects on human health and the environment. In most areas, these pollutants are mainly the products of combustion from heating and power generation, and motor vehicles. Pollutants may cause problems in the immediate vicinity of these sources, but also can travel long distances and affect more people and places.
The health effects associated with the main pollutants of concern are:
- Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulphur Dioxide, Ozone - Irritate the airways of the lungs, increasing the symptoms of those suffering from lung diseases.
- Particles (PM10, PM2.5) - Can be carried deep into the lungs where they can cause inflammation and a worsening of heart and lung diseases.
- Carbon Monoxide - Prevents the uptake of oxygen by the blood and poses a greater risk to those suffering from heart disease.
The Air Quality Index for Health (AQIH) has been developed by Specialists in Public Health Medicine and the EPA to provide health advice to the general population and to at-risk groups on the different bands of air quality in the index (Good, Fair, Poor, Very Poor).
Protecting ourselves from poor air quality is very important as in Ireland, every year, around 1,300 deaths are attributed to exposure to PM2.5 and 50 deaths are attributed to exposure to nitrogen dioxide. Its impacts cost society around €2 billion every year.
The pollutants of primary public health concern are particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2):
| POLLUTANT | SOURCE | HEALTH EFFECT |
| Particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5) | Primary: Incomplete combustion of solid fuel heating, vehicle engine emissions, tyre and brake wear, industry and other non-exhaust emissions, quarrying, construction Secondary (formed by chemical reactions in the air: emissions of ammonia, sulphur dioxide, oxides of organic compounds from both combustion sources and vegetation | Short term exposures can increase: asthma, eye, noise and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, bronchitis, pneumonia Chronic exposure increases morbidity and mortality through: cardiovascular effects, respiratory impacts, lung cancer Particle exposure has also been linked with: atherosclerosis, childhood respiratory disease, endocrine (diabetes)nervous (cognitive function)adverse birth outcomes, liver and kidney damage |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) | road transport, electricity supply, industry, other industrial and commercial sectors | short term association with all-cause and cause specific mortality airway inflammation, impaired lung function, increased hospital admissions |
Resources
- Air Quality Publications from the Departments of Public Health Lenus Collection
- Air Quality Index for Health
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - A Guide for GPs and other Health Professionals
Ireland’s specialist service for the surveillance of communicable diseases.