Limerick City and County Council’s Active Travel team, in collaboration with the Environment department, has set up a programme to monitor air quality across the metropolitan area.
The team is monitoring air quality in two different ways:
1) Air/Noise monitors
2) Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) diffusion tubes
Air/Noise Monitors:
Six air/noise monitors have been installed by the Active Travel team, in conjunction with the Environment department, at the following strategic locations:
- Old Cratloe Road
- Mary Immaculate College
- South Circular Road
- Childers Road
- Canal Bank
- Parkway Shopping Centre
The monitors will provide useful data which will allow the team to record air quality and noise levels before and after the delivery of Active Travel schemes across the Metropolitan area.
The monitors will provide data based on the Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality Index for Health (AQIH). This is a number from 1 to 10 that tells you what the air quality currently is in the station nearest to you and whether or not this might affect the health of you or your child. A reading of 10 means the air quality is very poor and a reading of one to three inclusive means that the air quality is good. More information on the AQIH can be seen at this link.
Nitrogen Dioxide (N02) diffusion tubes:
A series of N02 (nitrogen dioxide) diffusion tubes have been installed at a number of locations where Active Travel schemes are yet to be constructed, to allow air quality to be established and compared.
N02 is a pollutant that is emitted in ambient air when petrol or diesel is burned in internal combustion engines.
The Active Travel team is to monitor N02 levels at some locations previously assessed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where it ties in with upcoming Active Travel projects, to build on the existing records in each area.
The installation of the devices has taken place in the following locations:
- Ballycummin Road
- R510 Quinn’s Cross to Raheen
- Fr. Russell Road
- Dooradoyle Road
- Childers Road (West)
- Childers Road (East)
- Plassey Park Road
- Corbally Road
- Mill Road
- Milk Market
- Bellefield
- Ennis Road (Lawn Tennis Club)
- Ennis Road (Gaelic Grounds)
- TUS Moylish
- Old Cratloe Road
- Roden Street
- South Circular Road
- Brookville Avenue
This page will be regularly updated with the latest monthly results as they’re assessed and analysed by the Active Travel team.
