The Clean Air For Europe (CAFE) Directive (2008/50/EC) sets air quality standards for European Union member states and has been transposed into Irish legislation by the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2011 (S.I. No 180 of 2011 as amended).
Documents on Irish and European environmental legislation relating to air emissions or air quality are available at https://www.epa.ie/pubs/legislation/air/
The targets for the protection of human health from particulate matter as well as other air pollutants can be found at the EPA’s website here.
The limit values below are taken from the EPA’s website and based on those set in the CAFE Directive 2008/50/EC.
Pollutant | Objective | Averaging Period | Limit Value | Basis of Application of the Limit Value |
PM10 | Protection of human health | 24 hours | 50 ug/m3 | Not to be exceeded |
PM10 | Protection of human health | calendar year | 40 ug/m3 | Annual mean |
PM2.5 | Protection of human health | calendar year | 25 ug/m3 | Annual mean |
PM2.5 | Protection of human health | calendar year | 20 ug/m3 | Annual mean |
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) | Protection of human health | 24 hours | 125 | Not to be exceeded more than 3 times in a calendar year |
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) | Protection of human health | 1 hour | 200 | Not to be exceeded more than 18 times in a calendar year |
NOTE: Particulate Matter 10 refers to 10 Microns. One micron is 1 millionth of a metre (i.e. 1 x 10-6 metres)
NOTE: this table is not exhaustive. For a full list of air quality standards visit http://www.epa.ie/air/quality/standards/
Assessment of air quality with respect to these standards requires the use of measurement methods known as Standard Reference Methods.
Compliance with the CAFE Directive and the associated Irish air quality regulations is assessed via measurements of a range of air quality parameters at locations across Cork City. Further details are available in the Air Quality Monitoring Programme section.
The Council’s air quality monitors (i.e. the PurpleAir Sensors) are not designed for direct assessment of compliance with the CAFE Directive but provide indicative data on air quality relating to Particulate Matter (PM). The results can be affected by localised events that can cause occasional peaks (e.g. pollutants from a car idling in the vicinity of a monitor).
The air quality monitors will allow the Council and the public to review long-term trends to establish any improvement or deterioration of air quality in the metropolitan area of Cork City.
Other Air Quality information is available on the European Environment Agency Website.
Live air quality information can be found https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/explore-interactive-maps/up-to-date-air-quality-data.
For queries please contact airquality@corkcity.ie
