Are you breathing dangerous air? 1,300 Irish people die of poor air quality

AN ESTIMATED 1,300 people in Ireland die prematurely each year due to poor air quality, according to experts.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a report which outlined the shocking figures, and recommendations on how we can improve air quality and in turn, improve health. 

Lately with arctic weather sweeping across the country, the air quality in the midlands, particularly, has worsened. Dr. Ina Kelly, a consultant in the HSE's national health protection office, said there could be a few underlying reasons for this. 

“Air pollution is a chronic issue and we know that a very small particle in the air, which kills over 1,000 people a year, is a product of combustion and burning and is more likely to occur in cold weather.

“When there is very little movement of air, the emissions from what we burn are likely to stay closer to the ground and not be dispersed, which makes the air quality poor in one area. There were a number of spikes in the last week, due to the cold weather.”

The particle which Dr Kelly is referring to is (PM2.5) in the air, which can cause serious health issues, particularly for people with underlying lung or heart conditions. The European Environment Agency (EEA) estimates around 1,300 Irish people die of this every year.

The burning of solid fuel in our homes and nitrogen dioxide from road traffic are the main threats to good air quality, according to the EPA. You can now check your area's air quality on this monitor.

“Not everybody needs to burn residential fuels - open fires are very common in Ireland and I think we have a very nostalgic relationship with them, but we could cut back on that.

“The advice we would give to people is to know about poor air quality in their area and to reduce their strenuous activities, for instance - it is important that people are aware of it.”

Outdoor air pollution is also recognised as a “major environmental risk to health” internationally. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this type of air pollution accounts for an estimated four million deaths annually worldwide due to stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and chronic respiratory diseases.