Ireland's Pollution Problem: A Comprehensive Overview

Ireland has experienced instances of both water and air pollution. While the country's water quality is still considered good compared to other nations, it has declined over the past thirty years due to hazardous waste spills, overpopulation, and unusual weather conditions. Similarly, while Ireland's air quality is relatively good, it is occasionally affected by smoke, haze, and pollution, particularly during the winter months.

Ireland's air quality is good compared to other countries, but there are still issues with smoke and haze

Ireland's air quality is considered good compared to other countries. Ireland's PM2.5 reading of 10.60 μg/m³ is a respectable reading, ranking it 77th out of all countries worldwide, just behind Switzerland and the Netherlands. The capital city of Ireland, Dublin, also has a good PM2.5 reading of 10.6 μg/m³ in 2019, ranking 2357th out of all cities globally.

However, there are still issues with smoke and haze in the country. Ireland's air quality is at its worst during the winter months, particularly in February and March, which are the most polluted months of the year. During these months, the air is permeated with smoke, haze, and pollution, causing heightened mortality rates. The main sources of pollution in Ireland are vehicle emissions, factory and industrial sites, and the burning of organic materials. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) are significant pollutants released from vehicles, with nitrogen dioxide being the most prominent due to its high release from vehicle engines. These pollutants can cause irritation to the lungs and throat and trigger asthma and other respiratory issues.

Water quality in Ireland has also been a concern. Almost half of Ireland's rivers have unsatisfactory water quality levels, with a decline in water quality recorded in 230 rivers in 2020. This decline is mainly due to nitrogen and phosphorus pollution from agriculture and urban wastewater discharges. Additionally, there have been incidents of water pollution affecting people's health, such as the outbreak of Cryptosporidium in County Galway in 2007, where approximately 90,000 people were forced to boil or buy water, and about 180 people became ill. Other incidents include water pollution from hazardous waste spills and industrial waste, leading to fish kills in Irish rivers.

Water quality has decreased over the past 30 years, with almost half of Ireland's rivers having unsatisfactory levels

Water quality in Ireland has decreased over the past 30 years, with almost half of Ireland's rivers having unsatisfactory levels. The number of rivers in Ireland that are in pristine condition has decreased from over 500 in the late 1980s to just 20 today. The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) latest water indicators report found that while the overall water quality improved for 345 rivers nationally across 2019 and 2020, there was a decline across 230 other rivers. These declines are mostly along the southeast and southern coasts, where nitrogen emissions from agricultural activities are having a significant negative impact on water quality.

The EPA assessment also shows that 29% of rivers and 30% of lakes have unsatisfactory phosphate levels, including the Liffey, Dublin Bay, Nanny-Devlin, and Shannon Estuary South catchment areas. The majority of lakes in poor or bad condition for phosphorus are situated in the Erne catchment in the northeast, where agriculture is a significant pressure. The main threat to water quality is high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus arising from agriculture and wastewater discharges. These nutrients affect a water body's ecosystem, causing algal blooms that displace other flora and fauna. High nitrate levels in drinking water supplies also pose a risk to human health.

Water pollution has affected everyday life and people's health in Ireland. In March 2007, an outbreak of Cryptosporidium, a parasitic organism, occurred in Headford, Moycullen, and Galway City through contaminated tap water. Some 90,000 people in Galway were forced to boil or buy water due to the dangers of ingesting the contaminated supply, and approximately 180 people became ill as a result. In November 2019, a boil water notice was imposed on 600,000 people in North Co. Dublin, Kildare, and Meath due to problems at the Leixlip treatment plant. Irish Water has set 2021 as the target date to eliminate all boil water notices in the country and reduce the leakage of treated water by 11%.

The EPA is calling for urgent and targeted action to protect and restore water quality in the next River Basin Management Plan (2022-2027) and full implementation of, and compliance with, the Good Agricultural Practice Regulations. The Irish government has also undertaken several actions to improve water quality in recent years. Despite these efforts, Ireland is currently failing to meet the EU and national goal of restoring all waters to good or better status by 2027.

Agricultural and urban wastewater discharges are significant contributors to water pollution

Ireland's water quality is considered quite good compared to other countries. However, over the past thirty years, water quality has decreased, and agricultural and urban wastewater discharges have been significant contributors to water pollution.

Agricultural activities impact over 1,000 water bodies in Ireland, making it the most prevalent pressure on these water sources. Nitrate concentrations in rivers and groundwater decreased during the 1990s and 2000s but increased again in the 2010s, reaching a peak in 2018-2019. The European Commission approved Ireland's nitrates derogation in 2022, mandating a review of water quality in polluted areas by 2023 and implementing additional measures under the Nitrates Action Programme by 2024.

Urban wastewater discharges are the second-largest source of water pollution in Ireland, impacting 214 water bodies. In 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that wastewater treatment in 12 urban areas, generating more than half of Ireland's sewage, failed to meet minimum legal standards. Raw sewage from towns and villages flows into rivers and bays, causing unhealthy conditions and threatening sensitive habitats and species. Sewage overflow during rainfall is common, leading to frequent beach closures.

The EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive sets standards for wastewater treatment, but Ireland has been found non-compliant and faces potential fines. The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) attributes this failure to decades of underinvestment and a lack of political will.

Water pollution incidents have had tangible impacts on Ireland's water sources and residents. In 1996, industrial waste caused a large fish kill in the Dodder River in Dublin. In 2007, a water filtration plant contaminated with Cryptosporidium, a parasitic organism, resulted in a boil water notice for 90,000 people in Galway. More recently, in 2019, a similar notice was issued to 600,000 people in North Co. Dublin, Kildare, and Meath due to problems at the Leixlip treatment plant.

Air pollution is caused by vehicle emissions, factories, industrial sites, and the burning of organic materials

Ireland's air quality is generally considered good, with a PM2.5 reading of 10.60 μg/m³, placing it 77th out of all countries worldwide. However, vehicle emissions, factories, industrial sites, and the burning of organic materials are significant sources of air pollution in Ireland.

Vehicle emissions are a major contributor to air pollution in Ireland, particularly in urban areas with high traffic congestion. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) are two primary pollutants released from vehicle engines. NO2 is a reddish-brown gas that irritates the airways and exacerbates respiratory conditions like asthma. It is produced through the high-temperature combustion of fuels in transportation and industrial processes. The concentration of NO2 in the atmosphere is often directly correlated with traffic volume. While individual car emissions are relatively small, the collective impact of millions of vehicles on the road contributes significantly to air pollution. Newer vehicles tend to emit fewer pollutants and consume less gasoline due to stricter emission standards, while older vehicles generally pollute more.

Factories and industrial sites also play a role in Ireland's air pollution. High-temperature combustion processes in industries and power-generating facilities release NO2 and other pollutants into the atmosphere. Additionally, industrial activities, power plants, and construction sites contribute to outdoor particulate matter pollution.

The burning of organic materials, such as wildfires and agricultural burns, releases particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. VOCs vaporize at or near room temperature and are found in paints, cleaning supplies, and even craft materials. They contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone (O3), a major component of smog. Agricultural burns can negatively impact children's respiratory health, and exposure to smoke from these burns has been linked to increased asthma rates.

To protect themselves from elevated pollution levels, particularly during the winter months when pollution is typically worse, individuals can take preventative measures such as wearing high-quality particle-filtering masks and staying informed about hourly or daily pollution levels through air quality maps and apps.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitors air pollutants and investigates complaints

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Ireland is responsible for monitoring air pollutants and investigating complaints. It produces reports on the state of the environment in Ireland, including the quality of air, water, soil, and biodiversity. The EPA also provides information to the public on air quality and steps to reduce air pollution.

The EPA's Air Quality Index for Health (AQIH) is a scale from 1 to 10 that indicates the current air quality in a region and whether it might affect the health of residents. Ireland's overall air quality is considered good, with a PM2.5 reading of 10.60 μg/m³, ranking 77th out of all countries worldwide. However, during certain months, particularly February, March, and April, pollution levels can increase significantly, with moderate to high ratings of air pollution. These higher pollution levels are attributed to vehicle emissions, factory and industrial sites, and the burning of organic materials.

The EPA also regulates drinking water quality and enforces standards in public supplies. While water quality in Ireland is generally good compared to other countries, there have been incidents of water pollution affecting public health. For instance, in 2007, a parasitic outbreak in County Galway was linked to contaminated tap water, impacting approximately 90,000 people. The EPA has also published reports on bathing water quality, indicating that most of Ireland's bathing waters meet high standards.

Additionally, the EPA monitors radiation in the environment and regulates radioactive sources in industries such as x-rays. It also provides information on climate action and works towards protecting and managing Ireland's environment through its state of the environment reports, released every four years.

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