Air pollution will leave city gasping for breath

High levels of pollution in Galway’s air will lead to increasing numbers of people with respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological problems – unless it is tackled now.

That’s the stark warning of an NUI Galway physicist specialising in air quality who said that dangerous levels of nitrous oxide and particulate matter in the city’s air were already impacting on people’s health.

This comes as an air quality monitor at Eyre Square that has been operational since January has shown the levels of nitrous oxide in the city centre regularly exceeded recommended levels set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Senior Lecturer Jurgita Ovadnevaite of NUIG’s Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies said there were two major culprits releasing these toxins into the atmosphere.

“Overall, with air quality, particulate matter has the biggest effect on health and solid-fuel burning is the biggest culprit for that.

“Traffic contributes to nitrous oxide and that really impacts on the kerbside – if people are walking there or spending time next to the road, then nitrous oxide will affect their health,” said Ms Ovadnevaite.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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