Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Apr 1997

Vol. 477 No. 5

Written Answers. - Ozone Levels.

Batt O'Keeffe

Question:

178 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment the way in which the public was advised or warned about ozone levels in order that vulnerable members of the population could refrain from exposing themselves to these adverse conditions in view of the fact that the ozone levels in Cork were greater than EU limits for the protection of public health on 23 days in 1995; and the contacts, if any, there have been with relevant health authorities to conduct epidemiological studies on the increase in cataracts and respiratory problems, which are expected due to elevated ozone levels. [9013/97]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

Directive 92/72/EEC, on air pollution by ozone, requires the establishment of an ozone monitoring network and public information system in each member state. In Ireland, a network of six stations, including one at Glashaboy in County Cork, is managed by the Environmental Protection Agency. The public information procedures, operated with the assistance of Met Eireann, are in line with the directive.

The directive establishes three graded thresholds for ozone concentrations relative to effects on human health and vegetation. Public information requirements are triggered by two of these thresholds, a "public information threshold" of 180 micrograms of ozone per cubic metre of air (ug/m³) and a "public warning threshold" of 360 ug/m³, both measured for a mean value over one hour. No public information measures are required for exceedances of the lower threshold of 110 ug/m³, for a mean value over eight hours.

In 1995, the Environmental Protection Agency recorded 23 days on which the lower threshold of 110 ug/m³ was exceeded at Glashaboy; these partly overlap with some eight exceedances of the 180 ug/m³ theshold, the highest of these recording 230 ug/m³. In relation to these and other exceedences, the appropriate public information arrangements were implemented.

Overall ozone monitoring results for Ireland in 1995 have been analysed in a published Environmental Protection Agency report. This concludes that the concentrations recorded in summer 1995 are probably the highest that have been recorded in Ireland; and that they give a good indication of the maximum ozone levels attainable in this country at current NO x and VOC emission rates.

The Environmental Protection Agency consider however that these ozone concentrations are not very high if compared with the levels experienced in the worst affected parts of Europe. In the circumstances it does not appear that special epidemiological studies would be warranted at this stage.