Freezing conditions lead to a worrying spike in air pollution in Longford town

Recent freezing weather conditions across the country saw significant spikes in air pollution levels in many urban areas. In the midlands, air quality in Longford and Athlone was among the worst in the country.

A spike in air pollution on the evening of December 9 saw Longford topping the leaderboard for bad air quality in Ireland with levels of pollution on a par globally with large cities like Mexico City and Whuhan in China.

Air quality is monitored continually in Ireland by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In Longford, a monitor located on the Dublin Road close to the town centre continually records the levels of particulate matter in the air.

Websites such as IQAir.com provide real-time information for from air quality stations around the world so members of the public can check air pollution levels in their locality at any time. 

In its annual report in September 2022 the EPA reported that poor air quality has a negative impact on people’s health and there are an estimated 1,300 premature deaths in Ireland per year due to particulate matter in the air.

A 2017 report by the Irish Thoracic Society on the burden of respiratory disease in Ireland, showed Longford, Westmeath and Offaly were among the counties with the highest death rates from respiratory disease.

Air monitoring results in 2021 from EPA stations across Ireland show that fine particulate matter (PM2.5), mainly from burning solid fuel in our homes, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) mainly from road traffic, remain the main threats to good air quality. 

Catherine Joseph, Green Party activist in Longford, expressed her concerns about the rising costs of energy and the potential long-term effects of poor air on the health of residents of Longford town – especially the elderly and those with compromised health conditions. 

Ms Joseph said, “The priority for people now during this current cold spell should be to keep warm and thankfully - this year the government has made significant increases in the fuel allowance to help tackle fuel poverty. Since 2019 the fuel allowance has increased from €22.50 per week to €33.00 per week. This year, further lump sums totaling €500 have been provided to help people cope with rising energy costs – these increases mean that those entitled to fuel allowance will receive a total of €1449 over the course of the winter period. A new means test for those over 70 is expected to see over 80,000 additional households qualify for a payment for the first time.”

She added, “However, we cannot ignore the longer-term health implications of poor air quality – and we need to ensure that we are all doing everything possible to reduce air pollution in Longford – to ensure that people can keep warm in their homes – and at the same time have good air quality and better health outcomes.

"I encourage everyone who is dependent on solid fuels to heat their homes to consider the advice of the EPA and to source lower smoke alternatives such as dry seasoned wood and low-smoke coal. We also need to see significant acceleration in the roll out of fully funded home retrofits under the Warmer Homes Scheme and in the approval of SEAI grants for all home energy upgrades – especially for those who are wholly dependent on burning solid fuels."

Ms Joseph said she will be asking Longford County Council to continue and accelerate their efforts to identify and help those most in need and to provide information to everyone on how they can improve air quality. "The benefits of retrofitting and energy upgrades will not just be warmer homes – but improved air quality and health for all residents of Longford Town.”

For real-time information on air pollution in Longford – https://www.iqair.com/ireland/leinster/longford

More information on air quality from Gov.ie here https://www.gov.ie/cleanair/