asked the Minister for the Environment the provisions his Department have made for the monitoring and control of emissions of nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere in view of its known damaging effect on sufferers of asthma.
Written Answers. - Air Quality Standards.
60.
An EC Council Directive of 7 March 1985 on air quality standards for nitrogen dioxide which comes into force on 1 July 1987 fixes a limit value and guide values for nitrogen dioxide emissions. Member states are obliged to establish monitoring stations in zones where the limit value is exceeded or likely to be exceeded. The Air Pollution Bill which is being drafted at present will include appropriate provisions for specification of the standards laid down by the directive and for the establishment of a monitoring regime, as required. In the meantime, An Foras Forbartha, on behalf of the Minister, have purchased a mobile monitoring unit to pinpont where limit values may exceed or be likely to exceed the values specified in this directive. There is, however, no reason to believe, on the basis of available information, that existing levels of nitrogen dioxide would exceed the standards set down in the directive.
In furtherance of their efforts to improve air quality generally the EC Council of Environment Ministers have also recently reached agreement on new limit values for, inter alia, nitrogen oxides emitted from motor vehicles and on a timetable for their introduction. Work on transforming this agreement into Community law is continuing. Despite the relative scarity of epidemiological data specifically showing the effect of nitrogen oxides alone on respiratory diseases it is understood that they do have a part to play in the severity of attacks. Any lung disease, including asthma, is likely to be exacerbated by the intake of air which is not pure.