The Green Party has called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to act on very poor air quality in Dublin. 

Data from the EPA's air monitoring network shows that air quality was 'very poor' (the most dangerous level) on their ten-point scale this Friday morning.  Their website suggests that adults and children with lung problems should avoid strenuous physical activity in such conditions.

Councillor Ciarán Cuffe, the Green party's European Election candidate said:

"People need to know what is causing the high levels of air pollution in Dublin City today. The EPA needs to comment on their data and clarify what is causing this air pollution. Is it dust being blown north from the Sahara, or is it caused by local pollution from heating systems or vehicles? It may be a combination of factors and we need a clear statement as to the cause.

"Back in 2018 the EPA told us that Ireland's emissions were going in the wrong direction for people to benefit from cleaner air, and that emissions of ammonia, nitrogen oxides and non-methane volatile organic compounds were increasing.  In the previous year the then Minister Naughten announced that he would double the amount of air monitoring stations in the country. This has not occurred in Dublin. In my own electoral ward of the North Inner City the only air monitoring station on Coleraine Street in Dublin 7 was closed last year. It is unacceptable that a disadvantaged inner-city community has no access to clear data about air quality in their area.

"High levels of particulates such as PM10s are a real threat to human health and EPA and Minister Richard Bruton TD should clarify the cause of this pollution and outline what measures they intend to take in the short-term to address this."

ENDS

Note

-link to EPA air quality monitoring https://twitter.com/EPAAirQuality

-link to EPA Air Quality Chart  http://www.epa.ie/air/quality/index/#d.en.51479 

-link to EPA 2018 press release http://www.epa.ie/newsandevents/news/pressreleases2018/name,63848,en.html