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Air Pollution in Cork City 2010 - Report

Executive Summary

This report describes air quality in through an assessment of the monitoring data generated by Cork City Council for the calendar year 2009. 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 (synergy).

It is currently estimated that halving the fine particulate (PM10) concentrations alone in ambient air would increase average life expectancy by 1-11 months. For perspective purposes not smoking tobacco would increase life expectancy on average by about seven years. The main health effects are increased risk of heart trouble, asthmatic attacks and lung cancer.

Average levels of particulates are about 16-19 ug/m3 and this is low compared to other European cities but there is no safe level. The background levels in the are about 20 ug/m3 and 28 ug/m3 for roadside sites.

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. There has been some disappointment in the extent of the reduction at European level possibly caused by consumer choice favouring larger diesel vehicles.

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. Vehicles, especially older polluting ones, should be discouraged from the City centres. Road pricing is being considered in the as a means to avoid congestion and reduce car journeys. Taxation incentives could encourage such policies and tolls or congestion charges. Narrow street canyons where there is poor dispersion of air pollution should be avoided. 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.

Space heating is also a major contributor to air pollution. Better building design, insulation and greener heating strategies are required. Community heating schemes should be reconsidered.

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. It is generally better to exercise indoors in a clean dust free room.

However 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 serves to contain pollutants.

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 from coal burning 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 inefficient combustion. Particulates affect the lungs, blacken buildings and reduce visibility.

(2).New monitoring parameters, PM 10 and PM 2.5 (Particulate Matter less than 10 and 2.5 microns). 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 40 % of the EU annual mean limit for PM10 and 50% for PM2.5.

(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 75% 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 no 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 higher levels than our urban station because nitric oxide produced from fuel combustion 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 35% of the EU standard It arises from poor oxidation of fuel. It is toxic, reducing the supply of oxygen in the blood.                                                           

(8). Lead levels are about 1% of the standard. This is a major decrease from the 1980’s. It is a petrol additive to prevent “knock” and improve acceleration but now leaded petrol is no longer available. It is a cumulative poison affecting the nervous system.

(9). The new continuous monitor, in operation since March 2000, indicated benzene levels to be about 10% of the standard. However the new monitor (installed since august 2008, indicates higher concentrations of benzene at about 27% of the standard. Benzene derives mainly from traffic fuels. It is a carcinogen.

General Situation in Europe

“Air quality in Europe (and particularly in the large urban areas) has improved in recent decades. However, it is estimated that in 1995 nearly all EU urban citizens were exposed to air pollution levels exceeding the (proposed) EU air quality standards set for the protection of human health.

Although implementation of the Auto-Oil measures is expected to result in significant improvements, the outlook for 2010 shows that some 70 % of the EU urban population will still be exposed to PM10 levels exceeding the limit values, some 20 % to NO2 exceedances, and some 15 % to benzene exceedances”. – European Environmental Agency (EEA) 2010