Become a Citizen Scientist and measure air pollution in Cork City

22nd August 2022

Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Deirdre Forde, today launched the Clean Air Together (Cork City) Citizen Science project, an initiative of The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce to gather new data on the quality of the air in Cork City.  

 As part of the initiative, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and An Taisce’s Environmental Education Unit are looking for 1,000 people in Cork City to become citizen scientists and measure air pollution.  Selected participants will receive a small tube that will measure Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) in their local area.  Nitrogen Dioxide comes mainly from cars, vans and trucks. It is an air pollutant and can have very harmful effects on your heart and lungs.  The sampling will be carried out over the month of October this year and it’s free to participate.  If you are interested you can get more information, and register to participate, on the Clean Air Together project website www.cleanairtogether.ie.

The results of the Clean Air Together project will also be used to inform Cork City Council’s Air Quality Strategy.  Lord Mayor of Cork City, Councillor Deirdre Forde said:

“I am delighted to represent Cork City Council at the launch of this amazing Clean Air Together initiative, which highlights the importance of air quality in our City.  This initiative also offers citizens the opportunity to directly engage in the collection of air quality information; thereby raising awareness of this matter and increasing community involvement in improving the quality of air that we breathe.”

EPA Senior Scientist David Fenton said:

“We are delighted to be bringing this exciting project to Cork City to measure nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - a major traffic pollutant which is known to be harmful.  By taking part in this Clean Air Together project, you will measure NO2 is in your area and your measurement - together with all of the other data collected - will give us a detailed picture of air pollution in Cork City. Participation in the project is open to everyone who is a resident of Cork City.  You can visit www.cleanairtogether.ie to find out more information and register as a participant.”

Once registered and selected, a pack - which includes the tube together with simple instructions on how to install it - will be posted to you.  The aim is to get 1,000 participants in Cork City to install their tubes on Monday 3rd October 2022 and leave them in place for approximately four weeks.  The tube will measure the levels of nitrogen dioxide - without you even knowing that it is there. After approximately four weeks of measuring NO2 levels, the tube is posted back to the EPA, free of charge.  The tube will be analysed, and results should be available early 2023. 

Sabrina Moore Project Manager from An Taisce commented;

“The Clean Air Together project is a great opportunity for people of Cork city to become Citizen Scientists.  The data from this project will contribute to scientific research by the EPA, but also can inform policy of Cork City Council to help improve the air we breathe.  Measuring air pollution is very easy and your participation will help us to get a better picture of air pollution in Cork City, so why not apply by visiting www.cleanairtogether.ie”

A map showing the results will be published on the Clean Air Together website www.cleanairtogether.ie allowing you to compare your results to those in other parts of Cork City.  These results can help inform Cork City Council Air Quality Strategy and may also be combined with existing EPA air quality results to give a better picture of NO2 levels in Cork City.