High Levels of Harmful Air Pollution Detected Across Inner-City Dublin

New research has revealed elevated levels of air pollutants in inner-city Dublin, posing serious health risks including respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological issues. Concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines were identified in several hotspots, including Cork Street, the quays, O’Connell Street, and the Temple Bar area.

These pollutants contribute to an estimated 1,300 premature deaths annually in Ireland, with many others suffering from heart and lung diseases or strokes linked to poor air quality.

The data, collected through the Google Air View Project, involved the use of electric Google Street View cars equipped with advanced air sensors. Unlike fixed-location air monitors, this mobile approach provided continuous sampling over a 12-month period ending in May 2022, offering a more detailed and dynamic understanding of Dublin’s air quality.

Dr. David O’Connor of Dublin City University’s School of Chemical Sciences, one of the study’s authors, noted that mobile monitoring revealed widespread high readings in areas like Upper O’Connell Street, Promenade Road, and Dublin Port.

Top Polluted Areas Identified

The study pinpointed several locations with particularly high pollutant levels, including:

• Cork Street (Brabazon Row to Newmarket)
  
  
• St. John’s Road West to Cardiff Lane via Custom House Quay and North Wall Quay
  
  
• O’Connell Street Upper extending to Dublin Port
  
  
• Liffey-side routes including Temple Bar and O’Connell Bridge to North Wall
  
  
• Wood Quay to Harold’s Cross Road
  
  
• Crossroads at Newtown Court Way and Clarehall Avenue
  
  
• Sir John Rogerson’s Quay and Hanover Quay
  
  
• Residential areas near Riverston Abbey to Phoenix Park.

Cork Street appeared twice on the list, with Dr. O’Connor explaining that it was tested on two separate occasions and consistently exhibited high pollutant levels.

Call for Action and Awareness

Dr. O’Connor emphasized the potential of mobile monitoring to uncover the “hyperlocal distribution of air pollutants,” enabling more targeted air quality management and public health interventions. Such monitoring, he said, could deliver real-time information on pollution exposure levels and identify hotspots for immediate action.

The study, conducted in collaboration with researchers from University College Dublin’s School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, highlights the urgent need for enhanced air quality monitoring and management systems in Dublin.

This research underscores the health implications of air pollution in urban environments and calls for increased public awareness and policy measures to address these critical issues.